Patrick Ewing

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Ewing was born on August 5, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica, to Carl and Dorothy Ewing. He moved to the United States in 1975 and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He learned to play basketball at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, leading the team to three consecutive Massachusetts Div. I state championships from 1979 to 1981. He was named a Parade All-American three times, Mr. Basketball USA, Parade Player of the Year, and MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a senior. He played center for Georgetown University for four seasons, reaching the NCAA championship game three times (1982, 1984, 1985) and winning the NCAA Championship in 1984. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 1984 and won the Naismith Player of the Year and Associated Press Player of the Year in 1985.

In Their Own Story

The 1982 NCAA Championship game remains a defining moment in Ewing’s career. Facing North Carolina, Georgetown trailed late until Michael Jordan hit a go-ahead shot. In the final seconds, Freddy Brown’s errant pass sealed the loss for the Hoyas, but Ewing had already made his mark by drawing five goaltending calls in the first half at Coach John Thompson's behest. Two years later, in the 1984 Final Four, Ewing helped Georgetown overcome a 12-point deficit to defeat Kentucky before beating Houston for the title, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. His NBA career was marked by physical dominance; during the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Chicago Bulls, he posted 34 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocks in Game 1. Despite never winning a title as a player, Ewing’s leadership contributed to the Knicks' success in the 1990s, culminating in an NBA championship with the franchise's front office in 2026.

Reader's Guide

Ewing was selected first overall by the New York Knicks in the 1985 NBA draft. He played 15 seasons with the Knicks (1985–2000), was an eleven-time All-Star, and named to seven All-NBA teams. The Knicks appeared in the NBA Finals twice (1994 and 1999) during his tenure. He won Olympic gold medals as a member of the 1984 and 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball teams. He was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and as one of the 75 Greatest Players in NBA History in 2021. He is a two-time inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame (2008 for his individual career, 2010 as a member of the 1992 Olympic team) and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame as a member of the 'Dream Team' in 2009. His number 33 was retired by the Knicks in 2003.

Did You Know?

• Ewing was born one day before Jamaica declared independence.
• As a child, he excelled at cricket and soccer.
• He wore a short-sleeved T-shirt underneath his jersey, starting a fashion trend among young athletes.
• He was one of the first freshmen to start for and lead a major college basketball team.
• The 1985 NBA draft lottery, which gave the Knicks the first pick, sparked allegations of being rigged.