Patrick Ewing is stepping back into coaching after spending the last two seasons as an ambassador for the Knicks.
The iconic center, hailed as one of the finest players in Knicks history, has been involved in recent championship celebrations and has now joined the Wizards as an assistant coach, according to an ESPN report.
Previously, Ewing was head coach at Georgetown from 2017 to 2023, during which he guided the Hoyas to a Big East Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. However, he was let go after the team managed only 13 wins over the following two seasons.
He rejoined the Knicks in October 2024 as a “basketball ambassador,” supporting both basketball and business operations for the team.
“As I expressed when my No. 33 was retired at Madison Square Garden, I will always be a Knick, and I will always be a New Yorker,” Ewing noted in an earlier statement. “I’m excited to embrace this new role and return to the organization I cherish.”
This marks a return for Ewing, who had a legendary 15-year career with the Knicks that featured 11 All-Star Game appearances—along with many playoff disappointments.
In his second season back with the Knicks, they reached the Eastern Conference finals but fell short to the Pacers. His recent push for the championship has been aided by a remarkable 13-game winning streak.
Before the Finals series against the Spurs, Ewing shared his feelings with the media, noting how special it was that former players were welcomed back, saying it made him feel included.
“What I tell them is, they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he advised the Knicks, reflecting on his own losses in the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999. “You never know if it’s going to come around again. We thought we’d have another shot in ’95. So make the most of this chance.”
Now, he’s set to coach a Wizards team that only won 17 games last season, but they did secure the No. 1 overall pick, which could lead to a promising future with talent like BYU’s AJ Divanza.
