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Patrick Ewing was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and educated at Georgetown University. Ewing played cricket and soccer as a youngster in Jamaica before moving in 1975 to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he first played basketball. His first organized games took place at the Achievement School, a remedial center for junior high students where Ewing worked on his language skills. At Rindge and Latin High School, where Ewing reached his full height of seven feet, he starred as the basketball team's center, leading the team to three consecutive state championships. By his senior year, Ewing 's basketball record had rendered him the most sought-after college recruit in the country. He chose to attend Georgetown in part because of the notable reputation of its basketball coach, John Thompson.
In his freshman year, Ewing led Georgetown to the 1982 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship game. In 1983-1984 season, the team won the NCAA championship for the first time, and Ewing was named the tournament's most valuable player. That summer he played on the U.S. Olympic basketball team, that won the gold medal. The following year, when Georgetown again reached the NCAA finals, the National Association of Basketball Coaches named Ewing the college player of the year.
Patrick Ewing was the Number One Pick out of Georgetown in 1985, with the distinction of being the first lottery pick EVER. He was named the (AP) Player of the Year in 1985 and was a unanimous first team All-American pick in 1984 and 1985. He was also the Sporting News POY. Patrick was a Final Four regular, appearing in three NCAA Championship games, and winning it all in 1984 when he was named the Tournament MVP. Ewing is the Hoyas' all-time leading shot blocker and rebounder, and second on their scoring list. After averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds as a rookie, he was named to the All-Rookie First Team and Rookie Of the Year.
Patrick has also had a distinguished NBA career, but has yet to taste the same sweet victory of winning a NBA championship, like he did in college. Ewing went to the NBA Finals for the one and only time (so far) in 1994, but the Knicks lost to The Houston Rockets. He got his licks in against Houston, though, recording a NBA Finals record 30 blocks. This seven-foot, 240 pound center has led the New York Knicks over the past ten years to be a force to be reckoned with in the eastern conference. The New York Knicks are known for good defense, rebounding and feeding the ball to the big man in the middle. He has become the consummate Knick, this fact was solidified when he became the all-time Knicks leader in games played on 11/3/95 and in minutes played on 1/23/96. Ewing, a native of Jamaica, is usually among the league leaders in scoring and rebounding, but is also an impressive defensive presence in the middle, with three All-Defensive Second Team Selections.
This perennial all-star usually got the start for the eastern team before the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal. He started again in 1997, after Shaquille O'Neal moved west, beating Alonzo Mourning with 1,395,759 votes. He has been on the team nine consecutive seasons, and 10 overall. His best season was in 1990 when he averaged 28.6 points and 10.9 rebounds, leading to his selection to the All-NBA First team, to add to 6 second team berths (1988, 89, 91, 92, 93, and 97). Patrick was on the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics, but also won the Gold Medal in 1984 as a collegiate player (remember when they used to let the amateurs play ball). He has a beautiful outside shooting touch, maybe the best pure shooting center ever. Although he played his entire career in the Big Apple, he is a quiet person who gets along well with the media, and has survived remarkably well in New York where the fans and press have a tendency to wear out players and drive them away. As of the end of the 1996 season he was the highest paid player in the league earning better than 18 million a year, but Jordan eclipsed his salary with a one year 25 million dollar deal for 1996-1997.
On November 19, 1996, Patrick scored his 20,000th point, joining the other elite big men who are known as scorers. The three big centers that have come out of Georgetown are generally known for their Defense, but Patrick also has an offense game. Patrick re-upped with the Knicks for a reported four year deal in 1997 that will pay him around 65 million dollars. Hopefully, Patrick Ewing will end his career as a Knick. He owns most of the important Knicks' all-time records having the most points, rebounds, blocks, steals and both Field Goals and Free Throws attempts and made. Patrick was also elected the President of the Player's Association for a 4-year term starting in 1997. He was the front man for the players during the lockout in 1998, eventually working a settlement. He took some criticism for the role that he played, being accused of dragging the proceedings out longer than they needed, but he had the player's best interests in mind. |
