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EWING JOINS IMMORTALS IN HALL OF FAME
• Patrick Ewing Photo Gallery
"Like I've said before whenever I've been asked the question if I ever thought I would make the Hall of Fame, the answer is no," said Ewing. "I never really thought about it. I've been to the Hall of Fame numerous times growing up, taking tours of it, and I never thought one day I'd be in it, but it's great." The first overall pick in 1985 out of Georgetown, Ewing amassed 24,815 points, 11,607 rebounds and 2,894 blocks over his storied career. The seven-footer was the anchor of the Knicks teams from 1985-2000, before spending the 2000-01 campaign with the Seattle Supersonics and 2001-02 with the Orlando Magic. "He's definitely deserving of it," said former teammate John Starks. "Obviously what he meant to this franchise and its fan base is incredible, and his numbers speak for themselves." Arguably the greatest player to ever don the orange and blue, Ewing's career got off to a resounding start when he was named Rookie of the Year in 1986. From there he never looked back in setting numerous team records over the next 14 seasons. "When you play, you don't have time to think about what's going to happen when you retire," said the longtime Knicks captain. "You are concentrating on the present, and being the best you can be to win a championship." Ewing was a seven-time All-NBA selection, three-time All-Defensive team player and an 11-time All-Star. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history while his career was still at its peak, "the Big Fella" is the all-time Knicks leader in total points (23,665), games played (1,039), rebounds (10,759), blocks (2,758), steals (1,061) and minutes (37, 586). Asides from his NBA accolades, Ewing was the 1985 Naismith College player of the year and a two-time Olympic gold medallist in 1984 and 1992. "I think his numbers prove he deserves it," said Knicks assistant coach Herb Williams, a former Ewing teammate. "He is one of the hardest working guys I've been around, and is a guy that was truly dedicated to the game. It means everything for him to get in. It's a place full of the elite players to ever play the game, so to be in that company, that means everything to him." Starks agrees that Ewing's enshrinement into the Hall of Fame is very important to his friend. "This means the world to him," said Starks. "As great as he was during his playing days, and the commitment he put in to get better and to improve his team, it's paid off in the end with him getting into the Hall of Fame. For me personally, just having the opportunity to play alongside of him, it was special." Walt "Clyde" Frazier, another Knicks legend inducted into the Hall in 1987, believes that this honor is a fitting conclusion to Ewing's lustrous NBA career. "Being inducted is the ultimate. Everyone wants to leave a legacy when you play, so to me, the team legacy is a championship, but individually, it is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Patrick saved this franchise. In 1985 he gave them the superstar they hadn't had since Willis Reed and myself. He truly saved the Knicks." Ewing will be enshrined with one of his former coaches, Pat Riley, and the fact that both will be forever linked together clearly means a lot to him. "Pat and I've spoken about getting in together, and it's great. Pat's one of the coaches that brought this great franchise to its glory days, and was one of my best coaches. I'm honored to go in with him." In addition to his lofty numbers, Ewing's workmanlike approach to the game endeared him to The Garden fans. "Patrick was always a warrior," said Williams. "Every night, he would give you 100 percent regardless of how he was feeling, and after the game, he never had excuses." Currently working as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, Ewing was at The Garden on Sunday. Fittingly, he received a long, standing ovation during the game -- a clear sign that the lovefest between the organization's greatest leader and its fans is as strong as ever. |
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