Patrick Ewing has joined the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach, citing a desire to return to coaching after a period as a basketball ambassador for the New York Knicks. Ewing revealed his decision and motivations in an interview with The Post on Sunday.
"I had to leave to scratch my itch," Ewing stated, explaining that the opportunity to be back on the bench was compelling. He acknowledged the Knicks' current coaching staff, noting that their bench was already "stacked" with talented individuals, which did not present an opening for him. Ewing expressed gratitude towards the Knicks organization, including Leon Rose, World Wide Wes, and James Dolan, for making him feel like a valued part of the team during his ambassadorial role.
Ewing, a Hall of Famer, spent two seasons as the Knicks' basketball ambassador. While he valued his time with the organization and enjoyed learning from the current coaching staff, the lack of an available assistant coaching position with the Knicks led him to seek opportunities elsewhere. The role with the Wizards presented the chance he was looking for to re-engage directly with coaching.