The game of basketball continues to treat Patrick Ewing well, especially when March rolls around. Ewing was consistently competing at the highest levels during his college career at Georgetown.
Ewing helped the Hoyas reach three Final Fours and win the 1984 national championship. He went on to have a legendary career with the New York Knicks and now serves as an ambassador for the organization.
“I was fortunate enough to make it to three title games, but unfortunately, we only came away with one, but I wouldn’t change that experience for the world,” Ewing said, reflecting on his March Madness success. “It was us against the world mentality.”
Ewing averaged 15.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in 143 college games. He was a three-time, first-team All-American and was the Naismith Award winner as a senior in 1985. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Despite all the success in his career, Ewing cited the loss to Villanova in the 1985 national title game as “the hardest one to get over.”
The Hoyas had beaten the Wildcats twice during conference play before losing in the NCAA Tournament final.
“Being at the Final Four and going against all these great athletes, you have to be at the top of your game to come away with the win. It’s not like the NBA, where it’s the best of seven. If you have a bad day, that day’s over and we didn’t play well enough to get that win.”
In honor of March Madness, Ewing reunited with former Knicks teammate John Starks and current Knicks players Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns and Jose Alvarado in a commercial for AT&T.
“I thought it was great,” Ewing said about the experience. “The Knicks have done an amazing job bridging the old generation with the new generation. I thought this commercial was going to be something that was a lot of fun.”
Ewing has appeared in several commercials and movies over the years, including an appearance in the original “Space Jam,” “The Exorcist III,” and, most recently, “The Life List” last year.
“I’m having fun doing it,” Ewing said about the on-camera work. “I’ve always enjoyed doing that, but I knew what my day job was.”
At 63, the 11-time All-Star remains committed to the game of basketball.
“I’m consumed with the Knicks,” Ewing said. “Most of my time I’m at NBA games.”
Georgetown Hoyas center Patrick Ewing (33) celebrates after a victory against the Houston Cougars during the 1984 Final Four.
After finishing his NBA playing career with the Orlando Magic in 2001-02, he quickly transitioned to a coaching role, joining the Washington Wizards as an assistant for the following season.
He would remain an assistant in the league from 2002 through 2017 before getting his first head coaching opportunity at his alma mater.
He served as head coach of the Hoyas for six seasons, winning a Big East Tournament championship and making an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. It was the first appearance for the university since 2015.
“It was a great opportunity to come back and coach my school,” Ewing said. “Ever since I started coaching, it had been a dream of mine to be a head coach and I was happy to have that opportunity.”
Ewing compiled a 75-109 record during his tenure as coach.
“It may not have worked out as well as I would have liked, but I was happy for the opportunity to show people that I can do it and that I can do it at a high level,” Ewing said. “… I love Georgetown. It was a great four years for me as a student and I thought I grew a lot and it helped me become the man that I am today.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgetown legend Patrick Ewing reflects on March Madness success
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