Report: Patrick Ewing turned down coaching interest from Knicks in 2018
Patrick Ewing was the face of the New York Knicks in the 1990s, but he was apparently not interested in a reunion when the opportunity presented itself.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported on Saturday that the legendary Knicks star was contacted by former team president Steve Mills during the Knicks’ last coaching search in 2018. Ewing, who had just finished his first season coaching his alma mater Georgetown, was not ready to leave though and ultimately did not get interviewed by the Knicks. The job instead went to David Fizdale, who lasted less than one-and-a-half seasons.
Berman does add however that he believes Ewing could one day coach the Knicks, quoting an NBA source as saying that a Hoyas run to the Sweet 16 would be invaluable to his chances of landing an NBA head-coaching job.
Ewing, who played 15 seasons for the Knicks, had long been interested in becoming an NBA head coach before taking the Georgetown job. While a return to his beloved franchise would be a tremendous story, one past experience may have soured him on the Knicks.
