Patrick Ewing
The giant who anchored the Garden and defined an era of New York basketball.
Selected first overall in 1985, Patrick Ewing halted the Knicks’ decade-long decline, establishing himself as the franchise’s longest-reigning icon through 2000. He anchored the team during its most competitive decades, leading New York to multiple NBA Finals appearances and instilling a reputation for physical dominance and defensive intensity that defined the league's 1990s.
- Role
- Center
- Tenure with Knicks
- 1985–2002
- Jersey Number
- 33 (Retired)
- All-Star Selections
- 11
- NBA All-Defensive Team
- 9 selections
Lore & Background
Arriving from Georgetown with a reputation as a dominant force, Ewing transformed the Knicks from mediocrity to elite contention. For fifteen seasons, he was the constant in a turbulent league, known for his signature hook shot and an intimidating presence that altered the trajectory of countless games. The era became synonymous with grueling playoff battles against Michael Jordan’s Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets. Ewing led the team to seven Eastern Conference titles, including back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999. Though a title eluded him in New York, he set a standard of toughness that permeated the roster, earning respect across the NBA for his unwavering consistency.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Madison Square Garden hangs heavy with the scent of polished hardwood and anticipation. It is the fourth quarter, the score knotted tight in the dying minutes. The crowd, a sea of orange and blue, rises as one entity, their roar vibrating through the floorboards. There he stands at the free-throw line, seven feet tall, eyes locked on the rim. He catches the inbound pass, pivots against the crushing weight of two defenders, and releases that signature hook shot. The ball arcs high above the paint, spinning silently for a heartbeat before swishing through the net. The Garden erupts, but Ewing doesn't celebrate; he simply turns, slaps his chest, and demands the next possession. This is not just a game; it is a testament to the will of the city.
Reader's Guide
The Patrick Ewing Era (1985–2000) represents the longest continuous period of contention in New York Knicks history since the championship years of the early 1970s. Defined by the arrival of the number one overall pick, this chapter tracks the franchise's ascent from lottery limbo to perennial powerhouse, driven by Ewing’s dual presence as a scoring machine and defensive anchor under coaches Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy.
Did You Know?
- Patrick Ewing holds the Knicks' all-time record for points, rebounds, blocks, and games played.
- He was selected first overall in the famous 1985 NBA Draft, which was held at the Ritz-Carlton due to a lottery system controversy involving the Rockets.
- Ewing is one of only two players in NBA history (along with Moses Malone) to win the Rookie of the Year and be named to an All-NBA First Team in their first three seasons.
- His jersey number 33 was retired by the Knicks in 2003, shortly after his departure from the team.