Patrick Ewing: ‘A Great Fit’ to Coach the Knicks
By William Lee
Patrick Ewing wants an interview and an opportunity to coach the Knicks.
Former-New York Knicks legend and current associate head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, Patrick Ewing returned to Madison Square Garden Wednesday night.
Ewing’s team, the Hornets defeated the Knicks 111-97 but more importantly was his message to New York. Ewing reiterated the fact that he WANTS to be New York’s head coach, as per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
"“You know, this is a great fit for me. I have my number up there (in the Garden rafters). I still live in the area,”“If I get an opportunity for an interview I’d be happy.”"
Ewing recently in an interview with Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, expressed his desires to be the Knicks’ head coach. The 11 time All-Star also stated that he regrets requesting a trade fom New York, saying he should have ended his career as a Knick.
"“In looking back at it, I should’ve stayed. But after 15 years of hearing all the same things. ‘The team is better off without him,’ or hear rumbles in the locker room from your teammates that, ‘We’re better off without him,’ you know, you just get sick and tired of it. And I think that was what happened. You hear all the rumblings back then that we need to run, play faster. We need to run, do this, do that. They’re better off without him. So I’m like, you know what? Just let me go. Go be better off without me.”“I decided enough was enough and I asked for a trade. After, what’s this now? What? 13, 14 years later? And I wish I hadn’t have done it, I should’ve ended my career there. The whole experience was great. It was a great experience, a great run. I love the people in New York. They showed that they love me. It was disappointing that I didn’t finish it there.”"
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Another thing that sounds like it is disappointing to Ewing is the fact that he never really was given a chance to coach the Knicks. Despite the MANY opportunities given the dysfunction within the organization. Since Ewing has started his coaching career in 2002, New York has had nine different coaches! Nine opportunities to just give Ewing a curiosity call…
"“I’ve been doing this, what, 13 years now? I see people who don’t have the same amount on their resume as I do and still have gotten opportunities,”"
It definitely sounds like Ewing feels that he was more deserving of the job than Derek Fisher, who was hired with absolutely no coaching experience at any level. Getting the job strictly because of his relationship with New York’s president Phil Jackson.
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Of course… we all now know how that turned out… with Fisher being fired two months ago, as the Knicks season quickly went downhill. Once standing at .500, the Knicks went on to loss 9-out-of-10 games, prompting management to oust Fisher. Although many believed that Fisher’s altercation with Matt Barnes in October was also a contributing factor to his dismissal. Fisher was attacked by former-teammate and friend Barnes for dating his ex-wife Gloria Govan, in which Jackson called an “embarrassment” to the organization.
Now there are reports that New York may remove the interim tag off of Kurt Rambis, even though Wednesday night’s loss to the Hornets dropped his record to 8-17 this season… Apparently… Rambis’ current performance as interim head coach is adequate enough…
While Ewing’s resume of being an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards from 2002-2003, Houston Rockets from 2003-2006, and Orlando Magic from 2007-2012, is not enough. Never mind that Ewing was specifically tasked to develop young players such as Yao Ming and Dwight Howard during his tenure at each of their respective teams. Yao who is going into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year, and Howard who will no doubt be in Springfield, Massachusetts himself some day! No… no… apparently this does not impress the all mighty Knicks….
Next: Carmelo Anthony Wants A Say In Coaching Search
Ewing has been paying his dues for a very long time, and his now the associate head coach of the Hornets since 2013. Given his legendary status with the Knicks, how about you give him a shot at his dream job.