One-on-one with Knicks forward Ewing Jr.
Son of Hall of Famer is thrilled to be in New York
 Mike Groll / AP Knicks forward Patrick Ewing Jr. runs through drills on the first day of training camp on Sept. 30. |
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Patrick Ewing Jr. took a roundabout route to Georgetown, his father Patrick's alma mater, transferring there after two seasons at Indiana. He took a similar route to the Knicks, arriving in a trade on Aug. 29 after being drafted by Sacramento and traded to Houston. He's thrilled to be in New York and with the Knicks, and is not the least bit intimidated by the shadow cast by his Hall of Fame father. Ewing recently talked to Sporting News' Bill Eichenberger about his journey and what lies ahead.
Sporting News: What was your reaction when you learned you had been traded to the Knicks?
Patrick Ewing Jr.: I was excited. I grew up in The Garden around the Knicks organization. Ever since I was little kid running around with my dad, I always wanted to play for the Knicks. Every video game I played, I always played with the Knicks. So just to be part of this organization is a dream come true for me.
SN: What will you bring to this team?
PE: Whatever they want me to bring. I'm an energy guy, a guy you can go to off the bench if you need me to get a stop or make some things happen. That's what I am going to be.
SN: In college, opposing players often praised your work as a defender. Is that a point of emphasis for you?
PE: That's something I definitely take pride in. When I was in high school, one of my coaches said, "Anybody can score the ball. You can take 20 shots a game and score 15, 20 points a game. But you have to give a coach a reason other than your scoring ability to play you." And that's something I've taken to heart ever since high school. That's why I've prided myself on doing the little things, the intangible things.
SN: Did you go to Georgetown because your father went there? Did you intentionally follow him there?
PE: No, not at all. I went to Indiana first. I went there for two years. If things had worked out better, I would have stayed at Indiana. To be honest with you, that was the reason I wasn't going to go to Georgetown. I just didn't want to have to deal with playing behind my dad, dealing with a lot of the media that was going to be there. Having my dad take the team to three Final Fours in four years and playing in the national championship game three years. It was just something I didn't want to deal with. And with Coach (John) Thompson's son there too, that made it worse. With his son there and Patrick Ewing's son there, we never would have heard the end of it.
SN: What changed your mind?
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PE: Coach Thompson talked me into going on my visit there. And me and Little John had a discussion. I told him I was glad he had me in for a visit, but I'm not too sure I want to come here. He said, "Don't let that be the reason you don't come to this school." He told me about the great academics and the style of play he was changing, that he was getting his recruits in. And after playing at the gym with the guys, I felt a connection with the players and I sensed we could be a pretty good team.
Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more.
SN: So you don't have the same sort of reservations about following in your father's footsteps with the Knicks?
PE: Playing in New York is something I always wanted to do. ... I remember I was a ball boy when Larry Johnson hit that four-point play against Indiana. I still have pictures of me jumping up on the sideline. That's one of the things I remember about being in New York. Being able to come back and be a part of that is a great feeling.
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