Patrick Ewing Joins Knicks as Basketball Ambassador for 2024-25 Season
Patrick Ewing has returned to the New York Knicks. The Hall of Famer and franchise legend will be hired as a basketball ambassador for the 2024-25 season. In this new role, Ewing will work on the organization’s business side while collaborating with players, coaches, and executives. This is a meaningful return for Ewing, who spent 15 iconic seasons with the Knicks, leading them to multiple playoff runs and cementing his place in New York basketball history.
View this post on Instagram
Ewing expressed his excitement in a statement about his homecoming.
“As I said the day my number 33 jersey was lifted into the rafters at MSG, 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. The Garden has always been my home, and I’m looking forward to working with Leon Rose, Coach Thibodeau, the team, and everyone else that makes this place so special.”
That sentiment was backed by the president of the Knicks, Leon Rose.
“The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing are synonymous with one another, and we are humbled and excited to bring Patrick back home. 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 Chief Operating Officer of the Garden, Jamaal Lesane, added, “As someone who grew up a huge Knicks fan during the Patrick Ewing era, the entire Knicks organization and I couldn’t be happier that Patrick is back with the team in an official capacity.”
After years of speculation about his future with the organization, Ewing has returned to the Knicks. A legendary player in franchise history, Ewing helped the Knicks become a dominant force in the Eastern Conference during the 1990s. He famously led the team to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999, but a championship ultimately eluded them.
Ewing’s connections to the current Knicks are extensive. During Ewing’s time with the team, head coach Tom Thibodeau had an assistant coach position, and assistant coach Rick Brunson was Ewing’s teammate. Ewing bonded with Jalen Brunson, a young man during Rick Brunson’s time in New York, by spending time with him.
While Ewing’s role with the organization has not been determined, the Knicks have been working on bringing him back for some time. His departure from the team in 2000, after a trade to the Seattle Supersonics, left a void in the fanbase. Ewing was annoyed by the blame for the Knicks’ inability to win a championship at the time, but that narrative has long since changed. Fans and the organization recognize Ewing’s contributions on and off the court.
Ewing’s coaching career in the NBA was 14 years long, with assistant roles with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets. In 2017, he became the head coach at Georgetown, his alma mater, and stayed there for six seasons. Ewing has returned to Madison Square Garden after a break from coaching and is now ready to contribute to the franchise that has defined his career.
Leave a comment