Ewing Jr. Set to Create Own Knicks Legacy


Photo Gallery: Patrick Ewing Jr. in Action

Sept. 10, 2008


As the start of a new season -- and a new era -- of New York Knicks basketball draws closer, NYKnicks.com will sit down with the players, coaches and others closely associated with the team to discuss their thoughts on the outlook for 2008-09.

We continue the series with the recently acquired Patrick Ewing Jr, who discusses his lifelong dream of playing for the Knicks, what it was like growing up with his famed father and what he thinks of his new teammates.

NYKnicks.com: What went through your mind when you heard your name called by Sacramento at the NBA Draft last June?

Patrick Ewing Jr.: I was just happy. It was a dream come true. I was finally getting the opportunity to do the thing that I wanted to do since I was a little kid.

NYKnicks.com: Were you surprised when the Kings traded you to Houston?

Ewing: It was odd. It kind of came out of the blue for me, but the NBA is a business. It comes with the territory. I knew I wasn’t going to stay out there because they had a full roster, and everyone had more guaranteed money than I did. I knew I was going to end up somewhere before training camp started, and it just so happened New York jumped on the opportunity to get me and I’m happy about it.

NYKnicks.com: How did you find out that you had been traded to the Knicks?

Ewing: My agent told me as soon as the trade went through. We had been trying for a couple of weeks to make it happen, but with the Olympics, everyone was overseas and stuff, so things were a little slow during that period. But as soon as they came back, a couple of days later the trade went through. New York had been trying to get me since the draft. Mr. (Donnie) Walsh had been in contact with my agent about getting a pick towards the bottom of the first round or early in the second to try to grab me before anyone else could, but unfortunately it wasn’t able to happen. But when I was put on the trading block by Houston, they were the first team to jump on the opportunity. It’s something I always wanted so I was happy they were able to make it work.

NYKnicks.com: How did you tell your dad?

Ewing: He actually had mixed feelings about it at first, but I think he’s happy about it now. It’s an opportunity to play professional basketball in the same place he played, and it’s a place he helped rebuild. Hopefully we can make some stuff happen now.

NYKnicks.com: No. 33 is retired in honor of your father, but it was also your number in college. Assuming your father and the organization approve of it, would you like to be able to wear that number for the Knicks?

Ewing: I’m going to wear No. 6. It was my dad's Olympic number, and Bill Russell's number, who was my favorite player. My dad's jersey is hanging up there in the rafters for a reason. The only reason I wore 33 at Georgetown is because they don't retire numbers. I felt like I did 33 for him there, and now I can do 6 here and it’s another way to honor him.

NYKnicks.com: John Starks recently said it would be “eerie” to be to see you out there on the court in a Knicks uniform. How is that going to feel for you?

Ewing: It’s going to feel great. It’s going to be a dream come true. It’s something I wanted my whole life ever since I was running around this area when my dad was playing here. It’s something I always wanted to do. I remember playing video games, and I always created myself when I was younger and put myself on the Knicks. Now that I’m really on the Knicks, I don’t have to create myself anymore (Laughs).

NYKnicks.com: So it sounds like you’re a big fan of the team.

Ewing: Of course I am! I was around here for like 15 years with my dad. I love the area, I love the city, I love the Garden and I love the fans. How can I not love the Knicks? They are my team and I’m thrilled I will get a chance to play here.

NYKnicks.com: How do you fit into Mike D’Antoni’s system?

Ewing: We’re going to find out, but I think it is going to be a good one. Obviously, at Georgetown we played a little slower tempo game, so I’ve got to get more acclimated to running again, but I’m an athlete. I like to run and I feel like I can bring a defensive presence to this team. But I just like to run and get up and down the floor, make lay-ups and play good defense.

NYKnicks.com: Have you had some good conversations with the coach since you’ve gotten here?

Ewing: Yeah, I talked to him today actually. We had a brief conversation as I was working out late up at the facility. He’s a good man, and I like him a lot.

NYKnicks.com: Has he said anything about your chances of making the opening-night roster?

Ewing: As far as I know, it’s looking good. You know, we’ve got a big roster, but the league carries 15 guys now, and hopefully I earn and find a spot on the team.

NYKnicks.com: How has it been for you working out at the MSG Training Center so far?

Ewing: They’re all cool guys. I’m taking my time getting acclimated with everyone and getting to know them. I’m looking forward to being there even more.

NYKnicks.com: Does anyone give you a hard time about being such a famous player’s son?

Ewing: Nah, man. They’re all cool. I’ve never had a problem with that. I really like it, actually. It motivates me to get better.

NYKnicks.com: What would you tell Knicks fans who might expect to see you come out and play your father’s style of game?

Ewing: Don’t expect it! (laughs) Seriously, that’s about it! (laughs) You know, he’s a big, big center. A big, strong man. I’m more of a quicker forward guy. I can guard most of the positions and can play multiple positions. But don’t expect the same things or same games from me as from my dad.

NYKnicks.com: How was it to watch him get inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Ewing: It was great! I mean, to go to Springfield, and that being my first time in Springfield, you see everyone and it’s like a who’s who of professional basketball. To know that my dad’s in the same list as all those greats, and then the actually ceremony itself, it was overwhelming. At center court they had all these famous pictures at the top, and you look up and I was like, “Wow, my dad’s picture is really going to be up there for generations and generations.” That’s something nobody can ever take away from him. They can always say he never won a championship, but he always can say he’s in the Hall of Fame.

NYKnicks.com: What was it like growing up as a kid around him and around The Garden?

Ewing: It was life for me. It was what I was used to. It was a great experience getting to run around and be around guys like John Starks, Charles Oakley, my father, Herb Williams, Xavier McDaniel, Coach (Pat) Riley. … I mean, anyone who has ever been to The Garden, that’s a dream come true. When you are young, you don’t appreciate it, but when you’re older you wish you had appreciated it more and taken more advantage of it for what it was. I mean, for me I was just a little kid running around having fun.

NYKnicks.com: So you don’t think you appreciated the opportunities you had to watch your father play here?

Ewing: No, not really. I mean, not until I got older did I appreciate coming to The Garden and watching my dad go for 20 and 10 going against someone that’s great. And being here and watching Michael Jordan play, I mean, I didn’t really understand it then because that’s what I was used to. I could go to any New York game I wanted to. I mean, I remember coming to these games and just going to the Green Room because it was cool to hang out back there. Once I got older and I became a ball boy, I started appreciating it more. But I wish I could go back and just relive some of those moments.

NYKnicks.com: What is your proudest memory of watching your dad play?

Ewing: Umm, probably the tip-in that he got to send the Knicks to the Finals. That’s something he had been striving for for years, and he finally made it to where he wanted to go. I remember in 1999 how hurt he was that he couldn’t play in the Finals. I mean, he finally got another chance to achieve something he had been striving for his whole career, but he couldn’t play in it. That hurt me, too.

NYKnicks.com: Your father is still active in the league as an assistant coach in Orlando. How often do the two of you talk about basketball?

Ewing: Not much to be honest. We’ve got a lot of better things to talk about. (laughs) But I watch some of his games and critique his team and tell him how I think they are playing, and he will also watch our games and tell me how I’m doing and what I need to do. For one thing, it’s going to be tougher this year because we’re going to be opponents. But we have a great father-son relationship, and he will always be there for me.

NYKnicks.com: Is there any player on this season’s Knicks team that you are really excited to play with in particular?

Ewing: I’m looking forward to playing with all of them really. I don’t want to, and I can’t really, single just one person out.

NYKnicks.com: What is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the names of various Knicks players? Jamal Crawford, for instance?

Ewing: I think he’s the best player on the Knicks.

NYKnicks.com: Nate Robinson.

Ewing: A shorter version of myself. He’s fiery and real energetic and he likes to go. I like him a lot.

NYKnicks.com: Eddy Curry

Ewing: Big inside man who can score the ball at will. And an underrated defender. (I AM SORRY WHAT?)

NYKnicks.com: Quentin Richardson

Ewing: He’s back with D’Antoni again, man. D’Antoni made him chime before. I think he’s going to do it again.

NYKnicks.com: David Lee

Ewing: Great all-around player. He rebounds the ball well. I was joking with him earlier. We were playing today and he was like, “Don’t try to dunk, you’ve still got your college legs,” and I was like, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just saw you at the All-Star Weekend Rookie-Sophomore Game doing windmills and stuff, and you’re talking about my legs!” It was funny. I like him.

NYKnicks.com: Last season at Georgetown, you were named the first winner of the Big East Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award. What did that mean to you?

Ewing: It was great. One thing I always prided myself on was being a good sixth man in our conference. And last year I didn’t even know there was going to be an award finally. But it is special because it is a coaches’ award. It’s not voted on by the players or the press or anyone like that, so it let me know what the coaches through I brought to the team. If I can play and sustain that kind of level of play, maybe I can win another Sixth Man Award here.

NYKnicks.com: How was it playing at Georgetown?

Ewing: Again, it was really great. My class, you know Jeff Green and the four of us that graduated this year like Roy (Hibbert), we brought Georgetown basketball back to where it should be. We got to the Final Four. I felt like we should have been there again this year, but unfortunately we didn’t. We did win back-to-back regular season Big East Championships and Big East Tournament Championship … but it was a great, great honor to play there. To wear the number I did and play under Coach (John) Thompson, it was just an honor.

NYKnicks.com: Like Georgetown, the Knicks have a rich tradition but have struggled recently. Since you were around New York during the glory years with your dad, how much would it mean for you to be part of a Knicks Renaissance as you were at Georgetown with the Hoyas.

Ewing: I’m excited for it. I think we are heading in the right direction. We’ve got a new coach who is an up-tempo kind of guy who is bringing his style to the East Coast, which is something I think will be very successful. Hopefully we can go out there with this team that we have, and hopefully we can do some good things.

NYKnicks.com: The Knicks kind of lack that defensive shot-blocking force. Is that where you think you can really find your niche?

Ewing: Yeah, you know that’s what I’ve focused my game on the last few years, my defense and trying to stop guys from scoring. A lot of times this year, or the last two years really, when the coach wanted the stops, he’d put myself on the player that was hot, and nine times out of ten, I did my job. So hopefully I can do that again here. Of course it’s different players, better players and a different game, but I feel like if I can grow with it, I can do some good things.

NYKnicks.com: Although your last name already means a lot to Knicks fans, what would you want to tell them about the way you play and what they can expect out of you?

Ewing: Just expect me to bring my heart. Growing up around here, you know that New York fans love players who play with heart because they represent their city. It’s the biggest and most powerful city in the world, so they love people who play with heart, bring it every night, and that’s what I’m going to do.

NYKnicks.com: So would you say you are a warrior, just like your dad?

Ewing: Of course.

NYKnicks.com: Is there a nickname you would want Knicks fans to give you, such as “The Little Fella” or “Junior”?

Ewing: They can call me whatever they want, it makes no difference. (laughs) I just want to create my own legacy like my dad did and hopefully have the same success and relationship with the fans.

NYKnicks.com: Finally, when your first game at The Garden comes, and you hear your name announced to the crowd, how do you think you will feel?

Ewing: I’m probably going to have the biggest smile on my face (laughs). Again, it will be me living my dream. It’s something I always wanted to do. I’m going to look around and I’ll have chills.


[Edited by - cartman718 on 09-11-2008 12:10 PM]

this was a great interview I like the kid a lot, i wish him nothing but success here

GO JUNIOR GO!!! I would love for a good kid like this to succeed in making the transition. I was pulling for Balkman and now i'll be pulling for him to be that next Bruce Bowen type who develops a shot and plays his great D. I'm glad he's in the gym working out, cuz he's gonna need to be in GREAT shape to make an impact in the NBA. He's just under 6-8 but with his vert and long arms, he may be able to do some defensive things like Josh Smith. I could see us going small like Atlanta does and using guys like Junior and Chandler as help defenders in lieu of a traditional shotblocker.

nice read. the kid has a ton of great memories too. I hope he works out, we can use a player like him, as well as it being a real good story...

I was thinking that Walsh really tried to get a pick for him?

And tried and tried.....


And all it took was the rights for Fred Weis?

I hope he can be our next balky. Energy player on defense and get things going.

the funny part if junior ends up sticking is that he played for thompson's (son) and now the knicks. hey does vangundy have a son? full circle right?

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by Allanfan20:

My theory is that the dog is actually humping the bed. I'm guessing the dog does this a lot and the family decided that if you stand at a certain angle it looks like the dog is praying. So they waited until the dog was all fired up and started humping the bed. Then Junior hopped in next to him.

Cesar Millan? Is that you? I thought you were hispanic, not black.

Is that a blood hound btw? A poodle and a blood hound would be what? A bloodle? lol I'd hate to see what that looks like.

Big East 6th man of the year in 2008 P-A-T-R-I-C-K E-W-I-N-G