Empire Writes Back
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New York Knicks: Hey Phil, Hire Patrick Ewing as Next Head Coach

By Joshua Simons

Apr 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Charlotte Hornets assistant head coach Patrick Ewing waves to the crowd during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Charlotte Hornets assistant head coach Patrick Ewing waves to the crowd during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Knicks are still without a head coach for next season, and one of the best players in franchise history would be a great choice as their next head coach.

Yogi Berra once said, “It feels like deja vu all over again”.

If you’re a New York Knicks fan, the search for another new head coach this offseason rings true.

When Phil Jackson was hired to run the Knicks, he hand-picked Derek Fisher, still an active NBA player at the time, as the team’s head coach. It was a risky move considering the fact that he had no prior coaching experience.

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But his experience as a point guard in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense coupled with  the success that Jason Kidd had making the transition from point guard to head coach was enough to earn him the gig.

A year and half later, he was out,. Former Jackson assistant, Kurt Rambis, another disciple of the Triangle Offense was elevated from assistant coach to interim head coach.

Different coach. Same system. Same results.

It’s time for a different type of coach to lead to Knicks.

Someone who has experience as an assistant, knows how to deal with the New York media, and will gain the immediate respect of the players.

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His name is Patrick Ewing.

Ewing, the former Knicks center, has been an assistant coach in the NBA for the past 14 seasons. He has worked for some of the more successful NBA coaches that include the Van Gundy brothers (Jeff and Steve.) He currently serves as the associate head coach for the Charlotte Hornets under head coach Steve Clifford, who has led the Hornets out of the basement of the NBA to two playoff appearances in the past three seasons. He was also a player under the great Pat Riley. His vast experience working and playing for these coaches gives him the necessary knowledge and experience to be an NBA Head Coach.

Ewing knows better than anyone the pressures that comes with being in the New York spotlight. As the star of the Knicks teams for 15 years, he carried the burden of leading the team to an NBA championship. As head coach of a major market team, there is constant pressure from the media, fans, and front office to succeed. Who better to lead the Knicks than someone who already knows what that means, and how to deal with it?

While he didn’t lead the Knicks to an NBA Championship, he was still one of the best players in NBA History. An 11-time All-Star and two-time Gold Medalist, the former number overall pick ended his career as the Knicks all time leading scorer (24,815 points.) Over his entire 17-year career he averaged 21 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. His 2,894 blocks rank 7th all-time in NBA history.

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Who wouldn’t respect a player with such success? Ewing would gain the immediate attention of the young players (ex Porzingis) who would value his experience and success in the NBA.

Ewing has the experience, pedigree, and success needed to be an NBA head coach.

It’s time for Phil to give him that chance.

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