Patrick Ewing, current head coach at Georgetown and former 11-time All-Star with the New York Knicks, tested positive for coronavirus.
Ewing is in isolation at a local hospital while he recovers from coronavirus. Georgetown confirmed that Ewing is the only member of the Georgetown men’s basketball team (including players, coaches, and staff) to test positive for coronavirus.
“I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Ewing said in a statement. “This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Now more than ever, I want to thank the healthcare workers and everyone on the front lines. I’ll be fine and we will all get through this.”
Ewing, a 7-foot-0 center, led the Georgetown Hoyas to a national championship and victory at the 1984 March Madness.
The New York Knicks selected Ewing with the #1 overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. Ewing became the first-ever lottery pick when the NBA instituted the new process that year.
There’s no shortage of NBA conspiracy theories that suggest the league rigged the draft for the New York Knicks.
Ewing was a member of the “Dream Team” at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He won two gold medals in men’s basketball in 1984 and 1992, and played with Michael Jordan on both teams.
Back to Georgetown
Ewing spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA. He’d been paying his dues over the years with stops at the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets.
When his alma mater called in 2017, Ewing couldn’t pass up a chance to coach at his old school.
Ewing played his collegiate ball at Georgetown, where he became the school’s greatest player. He led the Hoyas to appearances in the March Madness championship game three times during his time at Georgetown in the early 1980s. He won three Big East titles with the Hoyas as a player. He’s currently seeking his first Big East crown as a head coach.
Ewing has a 49-46 record at Georgetown, which now has fallen on hard times. The school hopes Ewing can turn around its fortunes.
The Hoyas struggled with a losing season at 15-17. The Big East tournament had just tipped off when the conference shuttered the event due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. The NCAA canceled 2020 March Madness soon after.
Ewing isn’t the first head coach to fall ill with coronavirus. New Orleans head coach, Sean Payton, recovered from coronavirus.
Knicks Legend
Ewing retired as one of the best players of his generation to never win an NBA title, along with Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.
After going to the Knicks with the #1 pick, Ewing didn’t disappoint fans at Madison Square Garden. He became a fan favorite for his play at both ends of the court, especially defense. He appeared on a front line with Bill Cartwright, dubbed the “Twin Towers” because they were both over 7-foot.
Ewing won the 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on 11 All-Star teams in 17 seasons. He averaged at least 20 points per game in his first 13 seasons with the New York Knicks. In 1989-90, Ewing averaged 28.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game.
Over his NBA career, Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
Ewing played his first 15 seasons with the New York Knicks. The new team owner, James Dolan, foolishly traded him and ran the limpy, aging veteran out of town. Die-hard Knicks fans have never forgiven Dolan for that slight. The Knicks saw their fortunes quickly reversed once Ewing left the team.
Ewing isn’t the only connection to the Knicks who got infected with coronavirus. Dolan also tested positive in March, but quickly recovered.