Given his success in college basketball, the New York Knicks had high expectations for Patrick Ewing when he joined the team in 1985. He came after a dominant college career with tools and body ready to dominate.
Ewing was aware of these expectations from day one. However, the top pick of the 1985 Draft admitted that he could only do so much. The fact remained that the Knicks needed to provide him with a reliable supporting cast and a coach who could properly guide him and the team.
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“When I first came to New York, people built me up to be a savior. One man cannot save a team,” Ewing stated via the New York Times. “I hate losing. I think that I’m a winner. I’ve won at every level. I don’t want it to stop.”
Ewing’s rookie struggles and early impact
Big Pat did not waste time showing the Knicks and the league what he could do. He had a credible showing in his rookie year, averaging 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.
Although these were good averages, Ewing’s rookie year didn’t run as smoothly as he had hoped. A nagging knee issue limited him to only 50 regular-season games that year, affecting the Knicks’ campaign. Despite limited action, the NCAA champion mustered enough to win Rookie of the Year honors.
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With Ewing struggling to stay healthy, the Knicks had no other player to step up. Their first two seasons with Pat hardly showed improvement as the team struggled to get past 30 wins.
It was proof that New York had to stock up on good players and not rely entirely on Ewing. The Knicks worked on that in the succeeding seasons. The team showed signs of improvement, and by 1988, the Knicks reached the playoffs for the first time since 1984.
From that point forward, New York was a consistent figure in the postseason although it was clear that they were a few pieces away from being a true contender.
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Riley weaves magic on Big Pat
Despite taking in talented players like Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, and Gerald Wilkins, the Knicks’ coaching approach also needed addressing. For New York to get to the next level, they needed a coach who could maximize the talent of Ewing and the rest.
Hubie Brown, Rick Pitino, Stu Jackson and John MacLeod took turns trying to prove that. But in the end, Pat Riley turned things around for the Knicks. Under him, New York embraced a defensive-minded philosophy. With Ewing known for his rim-protecting ways, the intent was to make opposing teams earn their points.
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Having worked with a superstar center like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it wasn’t surprising that Riley could map out an offensive system that would maximize Ewing’s talent. The All-Star center was the focal point of offense, meshing well with the team’s ball movement and perimeter threats.
Under Riley, Ewing blossomed into the star most expected. His finest moment under the champion coach was in 1994, when the Knicks faced the Houston Rockets in the Finals.
Despite Ewing’s efforts, the Knicks fell to the Rockets in seven games. For Big Pat, it would turn out to be his first and only Finals appearance as an active player. New York advanced to the 1999 Finals under Jeff Van Gundy’s watch. Unfortunately, he didn’t play in that series due to an Achilles tendon injury.
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Despite not winning a championship in his NBA career, there is no question that Ewing earned his spot among the greats for his resiliency and talent. He gave everything he had on the floor and did so until his final playing days.
Ewing’s dedication and hard work were what endeared him to fans. Although he never won an NBA title, those qualities earned him a spot among the league’s greatest players of all time.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.