Patrick Ewing - New York Knicks History

Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. was born on August 5, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to the United States with his family in 1975 and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Growing up in the Boston area, Ewing developed an interest in basketball and became a standout at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.

At seven feet tall, Ewing developed into one of the most highly recruited high school basketball players in the country. He eventually chose Georgetown University, where he became one of the most influential college basketball players of the 1980s.

Ewing entered the NBA in 1985 when the New York Knicks selected him with the first overall pick in the league's inaugural draft lottery. He spent 15 seasons with New York, becoming the franchise's career leader in points, rebounds and blocked shots.

Over 17 NBA seasons with the Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic, Ewing appeared in 1,183 games, scored 24,815 points, collected 11,607 rebounds and blocked 2,894 shots. He was selected to 11 NBA All-Star teams and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ewing arrived at Georgetown in 1981 and immediately transformed the Hoyas into a national powerhouse under head coach John Thompson Jr. His intimidating defense, rebounding and shot-blocking helped Georgetown reach the NCAA championship game three times in four seasons.

As a freshman in 1982, Ewing led Georgetown to the national championship game against North Carolina. The Tar Heels, led by James Worthy and freshman Michael Jordan, defeated the Hoyas 63-62.

In 1984, Ewing led Georgetown back to the national championship game, where the Hoyas faced the University of Houston and Hakeem Olajuwon. Georgetown defeated Houston 84-75, giving Ewing his NCAA championship. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Ewing returned for his senior season in 1984-85 and again led Georgetown to the national championship game. This time the Hoyas were upset by Villanova, which won 66-64 in one of the most famous NCAA championship games ever played.

He finished his Georgetown career with 2,184 points, 1,316 rebounds and 493 blocked shots. Ewing was a three-time consensus First Team All-American and became one of the most recognizable college athletes in the United States.

1985-1988: Arrival in New York

In 1985, the NBA introduced its draft lottery system, with the Knicks winning the opportunity to select Ewing first overall. His arrival brought enormous expectations to a franchise looking for its next great center.

Ewing averaged 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots in his rookie season despite appearing in only 50 games because of injuries. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986. The Knicks finished 23-59 and missed the playoffs, but Ewing had established himself as the team's foundation.

By the 1987-88 season, Ewing had developed into an All-NBA center, averaging 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. The Knicks returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1984.

1988-1991: One of the NBA's Elite Centers

Ewing's offensive game continued to improve as the Knicks built a more competitive team. In 1988-89, he averaged 22.7 points and 9.3 rebounds while helping New York win the Atlantic Division.

The 1989-90 season was arguably his finest individual year. Ewing averaged career highs of 28.6 points and 4.0 blocked shots, along with 10.9 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-NBA First Team and finished among the league leaders in Most Valuable Player voting.

In the 1990 playoffs, Ewing scored 44 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics, helping New York complete a first-round series comeback.

1991-1993: Pat Riley and the Knicks' Defensive Identity

The hiring of Pat Riley in 1991 helped reshape the Knicks into one of the NBA's toughest defensive teams. Ewing became the centerpiece of a physical lineup that included Charles Oakley, John Starks and Anthony Mason.

In 1991-92, the Knicks pushed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York returned even stronger in 1992-93, winning 60 games and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Knicks held a 2-0 lead over Chicago in the 1993 conference finals before the Bulls won four consecutive games to advance to the NBA Finals.

1994 NBA Finals: New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets

With Michael Jordan retired from basketball, the Knicks entered the 1993-94 season with a strong opportunity to win their first championship since 1973. Ewing averaged 24.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks during the regular season.

New York defeated the New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers to reach the NBA Finals. Ewing faced Hakeem Olajuwon, whom he had defeated in the 1984 NCAA championship game.

The series was a defensive battle, with the Knicks taking a 3-2 lead before Houston won Games 6 and 7. Olajuwon and the Rockets captured the championship, denying Ewing his first NBA title.

1995-1997: Continued Playoff Battles

The Knicks remained Eastern Conference contenders throughout the mid-1990s. In the 1995 playoffs, New York lost a seven-game series to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

New York continued to battle teams such as the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, but injuries, roster changes and difficult playoff matchups prevented another Finals appearance during this period.

1997-98: A Serious Wrist Injury

Ewing suffered a severe wrist injury on December 20, 1997, against the Milwaukee Bucks. The injury required surgery and limited him to 26 regular-season games.

He returned during the playoffs, but the injury marked a turning point in his career. Although he remained an effective center, his scoring and playing time gradually declined over the following seasons.

1999 NBA Finals: The Eighth-Seeded Knicks

The 1998-99 season was shortened to 50 games by the NBA lockout. The Knicks entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's eighth seed and faced the top-seeded Miami Heat.

New York upset Miami in five games, with Allan Houston making the decisive shot in Game 5. The Knicks then defeated the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers to reach the NBA Finals.

Ewing suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana and was unable to play in the NBA Finals. Without their longtime center, the Knicks lost to Tim Duncan, David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

New York became the first eighth-seeded team to reach the NBA Finals, an achievement that remains one of the most memorable playoff runs in franchise history.

1999-2000: Final Season With New York

Ewing played his final season with the Knicks in 1999-2000, averaging 15.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in 62 games. New York reached the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to Indiana.

Following the season, Ewing was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in a four-team transaction. His departure ended a 15-year career with the Knicks, during which he had become the franchise's most productive player in numerous statistical categories.

2000-2002: Seattle and Orlando

Ewing played the 2000-01 season with the Seattle SuperSonics, averaging 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in 79 games.

He spent the 2001-02 season with the Orlando Magic, appearing in 65 games and averaging 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds. After the season, Ewing retired from the NBA.

1984 Los Angeles Olympics

Ewing represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, joining a talented amateur roster that included Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Sam Perkins and Chris Mullin.

Coached by Bob Knight, the United States won the gold medal. The Soviet Union did not participate because of its boycott of the Los Angeles Games, but the American team still faced and defeated a field of international opponents.

1992 Barcelona Olympics - The Dream Team

Eight years later, Ewing returned to Olympic basketball as a member of the legendary 1992 United States men's national team, widely known as the Dream Team.

The roster included Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner.

Under head coach Chuck Daly, the United States dominated the competition and won the gold medal. Ewing provided interior defense, rebounding and shot-blocking while sharing playing time with fellow center David Robinson.

His two Olympic gold medals remain among the most significant achievements of his basketball career.

Regular-season averages for all 17 seasons of Patrick Ewing's NBA career, including 15 seasons with the New York Knicks and his final seasons with Seattle and Orlando.

GP = games played; MPG = minutes per game; FG% = field-goal percentage; FT% = free-throw percentage; 3P% = three-point percentage; RPG = rebounds; APG = assists; SPG = steals; BPG = blocks; PPG = points per game.

Complete season totals for games, minutes, field goals, free throws, three-pointers, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and points.

FGM-A = field goals made-attempted; FTM-A = free throws made-attempted; 3PM-A = three-pointers made-attempted. Career totals include all three NBA franchises.

Following his retirement as a player, Ewing began a coaching career that included NBA assistant coaching positions with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.

In Houston, he worked with young center Yao Ming. He later joined the Orlando Magic coaching staff and helped develop Dwight Howard, who became one of the NBA's dominant defensive players. Orlando reached the 2009 NBA Finals during Ewing's tenure.

Ewing joined Charlotte's coaching staff in 2013 and served as an associate head coach under Steve Clifford.

In April 2017, Ewing returned to Georgetown University as head coach of the men's basketball program. He coached the Hoyas through the 2022-23 season, including a memorable 2021 Big East Tournament championship that earned Georgetown a place in the NCAA Tournament.

His coaching career extended his involvement in basketball well beyond his playing days and gave him the opportunity to mentor another generation of centers and forwards.

Patrick Ewing is one of the most important players in New York Knicks history. His arrival in 1985 helped revive a struggling franchise, and his consistent scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking established the Knicks as a major force in the Eastern Conference.

During his 15 seasons with New York, Ewing scored 23,665 points, grabbed 10,759 rebounds and blocked 2,758 shots. Those achievements placed him at the top of several major franchise statistical categories.

Although Ewing never won an NBA championship as a player, he led the Knicks through one of their most successful sustained periods since the championship teams of the early 1970s. His battles against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat and Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets became defining moments of 1990s basketball.

On February 28, 2003, the Knicks retired Ewing's No. 33 jersey at Madison Square Garden. In 2008, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2021 he was selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.

His combination of longevity, individual excellence, defensive presence and loyalty to New York made him one of the greatest centers in NBA history.

How many seasons did Patrick Ewing play for the Knicks?

Ewing played 15 seasons for the New York Knicks, from 1985-86 through 1999-2000.

How many points did Patrick Ewing score?

Ewing scored 24,815 points during his 17-season NBA career, including 23,665 with New York.

Did Patrick Ewing win an NBA championship?

No. He reached the NBA Finals with the Knicks in 1994 and 1999, but New York lost both series.

How many NBA All-Star selections did Patrick Ewing receive?

Ewing was selected to 11 NBA All-Star teams.

Did Patrick Ewing win an NCAA championship?

Yes. Ewing led Georgetown to the 1984 NCAA championship, defeating Houston in the title game.

When was Patrick Ewing inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?

Ewing was inducted as a player in 2008.

Patrick Ewing - NBA Legends Profile

Patrick Ewing - NBA Career Statistics

Patrick Ewing - Georgetown Hall of Fame Recognition

New York Knicks History - NBAHoopsOnline

NBAHoopsOnline welcomes historical basketball information, photographs, newspaper clippings, game programs, box scores, and other material that can help expand our basketball history records.

If you have additional information about Patrick Ewing, Georgetown basketball or New York Knicks history, or notice an error, please contact us at nbahoopsonline@gmail.com.

Please include the player, season, game, date and any supporting sources when submitting corrections or additional historical information.