NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- Patrick Ewing was honored in a pair of ceremonies Friday night at New York's Madison Square Garden.
His No. 33 was raised to the rafters of the Garden, and he was immortalized among the franchise's all-time greats.
Ewing, now an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards, returned to what is called "The World's Most Famous Arena" for a night in his honor. One of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players is one of the great Knicks who never won a championship.
"My whole Knick experience has been great," Ewing said before the game at a news conference in an adjoining building. "It's been something I can cherish."
He joined the likes of Willis Reed, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, and Earl Monroe, and was the first Knick without a championship to have his number retired. That stigmatized him throughout his illustrious career, during which he singlehandedly restored the team's image as a perennial contender and became its all-time leader in virtually every category.
"The only thing he didn't get was the ring," Reed said. "He did everything he could to do it. If he had a couple more guys, if he had a Clyde, a great shooter like (Dave) DeBuscherre, he would have won."
"They're all great, but he was the greatest," said former Knicks Coach Jeff Van Gundy.
Ewing, often described as aloof and unfriendly during his days in New York, appeared to have plenty of friends on hand for his big night -- agent David Falk, former Knicks President Dave Checketts, former coaches Van Gundy, John Thompson, Stu Jackson, and Mike Jarvis, and former teammates like Doc Rivers, who now coaches the Orlando Magic, Bernard King, Charles Oakley, John Starks, Trent Tucker, and Xavier McDaniel, to name a few.
Knicks uniform retirees Reed, Frazier, DeBusschere, and Earl Monroe were introduced, as was former Knick Cazzie Russell, who wore No. 33 for the 1970 championship team. Also in attendance were Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, and Clyde Drexler.
Fellow Georgetown alumnus Alonzo Mourning gave Ewing a big hug and thanked him "for what he meant to basketball."
He was given the keys to a 2003 Hummer by current captain Allen Houston, and a rack of jerseys of other famous athletes who wore No. 33.
An emotional Ewing, rocking back and forth, thanked his family, former Knicks, teammates, and the fans who had a love-hate relationship with him.
"I'll always be a New Yorker," he told the crowd.
Flanked by his family, Ewing watched as the banner bearing his number was lifted to the roof amid cheers and tears, although none from Ewing, who promised himself he would not cry.
In 15 seasons with the Knicks, Ewing averaged 22.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. He is their all-time leader in points (23,665), rebounds (10,759), steals (1,061), blocks (2,758), and games (1,039).
The 1986 Rookie of the Year was an 11-time All-Star and two-time Olympian, winning gold medals as an amateur in 1984 and as part of the "Dream Team" in '92. He was viewed as the franchise's savior when he was made the top overall pick in the 1985 draft, but was harshly judged for his inability to bring the Knicks a title in his 15 years with the club.
"Despite not winning the championship, that's something I wanted, I think I had a great career," Ewing said. "That's the only thing I'm disappointed with, (that) I could never achieve."
"He worked as hard as anyone I've ever been around," said John Thompson, who coached him to a national championship at Georgetown in 1985.
"This is definitely one of the highlights of my life," Ewing said. "To go in the rafters with the likes of Willis and the rest of the Knicks, it means a lot."
