Trivia

Prior to his final NBA season, he had started in every single game he ever appeared in (1118 total) in 16 NBA seasons, 15 with the New York Knicks, and 1 with the Seattle Supersonics.

Ewing's four-year college career with the Georgetown Hoyas is cited as one of the most successful college runs of all time. Among his many accomplishments, he helped Georgetown reach the final game of the NCAA Tournament three out of four years, win three Big East Tournament titles, and was named a first-team All-American three times. He also left a cultural impact on the sport in a variety of ways. He was one of the first freshmen to not only start for but lead a major college basketball team, something unheard of back in his era. Also, he developed a habit of wearing a short sleeved t-shirt underneath his jersey, (which he originally did to sweat out a cold) that started a fashion trend among young athletes.

His son, Patrick Ewing Jr. (b. May 20th, 1984), was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2008 (43rd overall), but on August 29th, 2008, was traded to the New York Knicks, his father's original team in the NBA.

As a child, Ewing excelled at cricket and soccer. He first played basketball when kids in a park across from his house asked him to play. When Ewing first started playing basketball, couldn't play that well and the kids teased him since he was 6' 1' and couldn't play that well.

As a freshman at Georgetown University during the 1981-1982 season, Ewing became one of the first college players to start and star on the varsity team as a freshman.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's basketball, in 1984 in L.A. and 1992 in Barcelona (as part of the celebrated original Dream Team).

Was a professional NBA Basketball player for 17 years.

In a 1996 poll celebrating the 50th anniversary of the NBA, Patrick Ewing was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in the history of the NBA.

Played nearly his entire professional basketball career with the New York Knicks. After 15 seasons and 1,039 games with the New York Knicks, Ewing parted ways with the team and was traded to the Seattle Supersonics in 2000-2001.

Attended Rindge and Latin High School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ewing led his High School to a state championship as a sophomore.

Was the first ever "lottery pick" in the NBA draft. The New York Knicks won the rights to the first pick (which became Ewing) in the 1985 NBA Draft by means of a "ping-pong ball" lottery involving the teams that had failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs the previous season.

While he was allowed to wear a short sleeve t-shirt under his tank top at Georgetown University, he was, by league rules, not allowed to do so once he got to the NBA.

Assistant coach, Houston Rockets. (July 2003)

Retired as a player and accepted position as an assistant coach of the NBA's Washington Wizards. (September 2002)

Children: son, Patrick Jr., and daughters Randi and Corey.

Accepted a multiyear contract to return to Georgetown University as its head coach.[March 2017].

Has been an NBA assistant coach for 15 seasons.[March 2017].

For the 1982-1983 season, Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas began the season as the #2 ranked team in the country. An early season showdown with #1 ranked Virginia and their star center Ralph Sampson was dubbed the "Game of the Decade". Virginia's veteran team won, 68-63, but Ewing at one point slam-dunked right over Sampson, a play which established Ewing as a dominating "big man".

The Hoyas posted a 22-10 record for the 1982-1983 season and made another NCAA Tournament appearance, but Georgetown was defeated in the second round of the tournament by Memphis State. This would be the only season in Ewing's Georgetown career where the Hoyas did not make it at least as far as the National Championship game.

During his college recruitment, Ewing was very close to signing a letter of intent to play for Dean Smith and the University of North Carolina, however, while on his recruiting visit, he witnessed a nearby rally for the Ku Klux Klan, which dissuaded him from going there.

Before his junior season at Georgetown, his mother Dorothy Ewing passed away. Patrick was so distraught; he didn't feel like coming back to school or playing basketball at Georgetown. However, his family told him to continue because his mother would want him to get his degree and continue to play basketball.

One time in his second season, there was a Patrick Ewing poster night and he was hurt, but came back for that game. Ewing didn't have a good game that night and he remembers Knicks fans ripping up the posters and throwing it on the floor.

In an April 14th 1993 game between the Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets, the 7'0" Ewing suffered a moment of embarrassment when guard Tyrone Bogues, who stands a mere 5'3", managed to block his shot.

In the 1993, Ewing led the NBA with 789 defensive rebounds. He was top ten in field goal percentage 8 times, top ten in rebounds per game as well as total rebounds 8 times, top ten in points, as well as points per game 8 times, and top ten in blocks per game for 13 years.

Due to his stature and the team's dominance in High School, Ewing was subject to racially fueled taunts and jeers from hostile away crowds. Once rival fans even rocked the team bus when Ewing's squad arrived to play an away game.

On December 20, 1997, Ewing suffered a season-ending wrist injury when he collided with the Milwaukee Buck's Andrew Lang. After spending more than five months on the sidelines, Ewing made his return to the court on Thursday, May 7th, 1998, against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 (first year eligible).

He was inducted into the 2014 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Sports Category.

Coached the Hornets' summer league team.

Served five seasons as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets.

Former associate head coach with the Charlotte Hornets.

In the 1982 NCAA Final championship game, Ewing was called for goaltending five times in the first half (later revealed to be intentional at the behest of coach John Thompson), setting the tone for the Hoyas and making his presence felt.

During the 1981-1982 season, Ewing led the Georgetown Hoyas to their second Big East Tournament title in school history and a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In the tournament, the Hoyas advanced to their first Final Four since 1943, where they defeated the University of Louisville 50-46, to set up a showdown in the NCAA Final against North Carolina.

In the 1984 Olympics, Ewing was one of the players for team USA to win a gold medal. He wore jersey #6.

Ewing first played organized basketball at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School with the help of John Fountain. With only a few years of playing experience, he developed into one of best high school players in the country, and among the most intimidating forces ever seen at the level given his size (almost 7" tall) and athleticism. He wore jersey #32.

Ewing felt Coach John Thompson at Georgetown University was a great mentor to him since Thompson was a former Center in the NBA.

In 1973 first Dorothy then Carl Ewing left Kingston Jamaica and headed for the United States. They settled just outside of Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts. On January 11th, 1975, the 5th of their 7 children joined them 12-year-old Patrick Ewing. Initially, young Patrick was sad to join his family in the United States because he was leaving his grandmother and two of his sisters behind.

In order to prepare for college, Ewing joined the MIT-Wellesley Upward Bound Program.

The Hoyas led late in the 1982 NCAA Final championship game, but a shot by North Carolina guard Michael Jordan gave the North Carolina Tar Heels the lead. Georgetown still had a chance at winning the game in the final seconds, but Freddy Brown mistakenly threw a bad pass directly to opposing player James Worthy.

Ewing made his much anticipated NBA debut on October 26th, 1985 in game where the Philadelphia 76ers were hosted by the New York Knicks to a sold out game at Madison Square Garden.

Though Stu Jackson took over for Rick Pitino in the 1989-1990 season, Ewing took his place among the elite: voted an All-Star Team Starting Center and, while Ewing had always known as a dominant defender, he would take his place among the league's top scorers in 1990, averaging almost 29 points a game.

It was a rough initiation for Patrick Ewing in the 1985-1986 pre-season where he was fined twice, ejected on two occasions, gotten into scraps wherever he has gone, and fouled out in 3 separate games. The culmination of all this occurred a week before his official debut, in a pre season game against Indiana where Steve Stopanovich picked a fight with Ewing.

Ewing's first NBA points came via a put back dunk, from guard Darrell Walker's missed shot, over Philadelphia 76ers center Moses Malone.

Fittingly, Boston Garden would be the scene of one of Ewing's most dominant performances, with the Knicks down 2 games to the Celtics in the 1990 playoffs and facing playoff elimination, Ewing led one of the most stirring comebacks in NBA Playoff history. Ewing had a lot of friends and family at that game.

Admitted he was nervous with the 1985 NBA draft envelope reveal when it was down to the final two envelopes. With two teams remaining, Ewing would either be a New York Knick or Indiana Pacer. Ewing himself was hoping to get to New York because he would not look forward to playing in Indiana.

Before Ewing ever put on his Knicks jersey, the impact of "the Ewing Era" was not only felt in the NBA, but even in the New York financial community. Knicks ticket sales almost doubled with his arrival and Knicks General Manager Dave DeBusschere did not have any extra tickets for the 1985-1986 NBA Season. And everything with the Ewing name or #33 was selling big.

Played his first Pre-Season NBA game on October 4th 1985.

Although injuries marred his first year in the NBA to just 50 games with the New York Knicks, Ewing was voted 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. Soon after Ewing was considered one of the premier centers in the league.

In 1990, Ewing was voted the 1990 Eastern Conference All-Star team's starting Center. His first All-Star game start after 4 prior appearances.

Although Ewing is the most well known player to wear #33 for the New York Knicks, he wasn't the only player to wear that number. Cazzie Russell originally wore #33 for the New York Knicks from 1966-1971.