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Seen as a ‘monumental figure in New York basketball lore,’ NBA legend Patrick Ewing returns to the league as a Knicks ambassador
Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing has rejoined the New York Knicks as an ambassador to assist both basketball and business operations, the team announced Friday, October 4.
Ewing, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, will work directly with Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau and the team’s front office.
“As I said the day my No. 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at [Madison Square Garden], I will always be a Knick and I will always be a New Yorker. I can’t wait to get started in this new position and to officially be back with the organization that I love so much,” Ewing said in a statement.
“The Garden has always been my home and I’m looking forward to working with (Knicks president) Leon Rose, Coach Thibodeau, the team and everyone else that makes this place so special.”
Ewing, 62, spent the first 15 of his 17 NBA seasons with the Knicks, who selected him with the top overall pick of the 1985 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and was selected to 11 All-Star Games while averaging 22.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in 1,039 career games (all starts) with New York.
“The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing are synonymous with one another, and we are humbled and excited to bring Patrick back home,” Rose said in a statement.
“A monumental figure in New York basketball lore, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge from his time both on and off the court that is unmatched. We are ecstatic that Patrick will once again be back in the blue and orange.”
The Knicks retired Ewing’s number in 2003. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame five years later.
Ewing spent one season with both the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic before retiring as a player.
He spent 14 years as an assistant coach with four different NBA teams before joining his alma mater, Georgetown, as its head coach in 2017. – Rappler.com
