Patrick Ewing, one of the greatest centers in NBA history celebrated his 61th birthday today. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Ewing moved to the United States at age 11 and quickly became a star basketball player at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. He went on to play college basketball at Georgetown University, where he led the Hoyas to the NCAA championship game in 1984.
Ewing was drafted by the New York Knicks with the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft. He spent 15 seasons with the Knicks, becoming one of the most popular players in franchise history. Ewing was a 11-time NBA All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA selection, and a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection. He also led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999.
Patrick Ewing was one of the most dominant centers of his era, and his play helped to change the way the game was played. He was a great post scorer, and he was also a gifted passer and rebounder.
After his time with the Knicks, Ewing played for the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. He retired from the NBA in 2002. In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Ewing has also been a successful coach. He served as the head coach of the Orlando Magic from 2008 to 2012, and he was the head coach of Georgetown University from 2017 to 2021.
Ewing has been successful as a coach, and he has led the Hoyas to several NCAA Tournament appearances. He is the only player in NBA history to have his jersey retired by both the Knicks and Georgetown.
Here are some of Patrick Ewing's career highlights:
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- 11-time NBA All-Star
- 10-time All-NBA selection
- 2-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection
- Led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999
- NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986
- NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1986
- 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, 1992)
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2008)
One of the most accomplished centers in NBA history, Ewing is the only all-time leading scorer in Georgetown University men's basketball history. In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Ewing is also a great leader and mentor.
