New York Knicks: 5 players for Mitchell Robinson to study during suspended play

Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest centers in NBA history and, perhaps, the best player in New York Knicks history. Before he was one of the most well-rounded offensive threats the Association has seen, however, he was a dominant defensive force at Georgetown.

The dream would be for Mitchell Robinson to develop the soft touch that Ewing displayed on offense, but the defensive prowess alone would be a blessing.

Ewing was a monster on defense at Georgetown, and he was the heart and soul of, arguably, the best defensive team of the 1990s with the Knicks. New York was routinely contending without much offensive firepower, and Ewing leading by example on the other end was crucial to that success.

He blocked shots with the best of them, ranking seventh all-time with 2,794 overall and 11th all-time with an average of 2.45 per game.

Ewing was also a tremendous scorer who could work the midrange, operate from the post, or clean up the offensive boards. The reason he was able to play 17 seasons and lead the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals, however, started with his defensive prowess.

Before moving on to any other player, Robinson should spend serious time studying Ewing and what it is that made him special.

Where better to start than with the franchise leader in just about every statistical category?