The New York Knicks , once among the top two most storied franchises in NBA history, lost their prominence after failing to advance past the second round for nearly two decades. However, their fortunes changed significantly when they drafted Patrick Ewing with the No. 1 overall pick in 1985. Big Pat led the team to two NBA Finals appearances in six years, arguably making him the most impactful player in franchise history.
Despite this, Ewing felt he wasn’t given proper recognition in the modern era at Madison Square Garden, which upset the 11-time All-Star to the point where he vocalized his dissatisfaction.
Ewing shined at MSG, in a different role
After retiring from the league in 2002 as the Knicks’ all-time leading scorer, Ewing’s passion for the game remained undiminished. He transitioned into coaching, working as an assistant for several NBA franchises, including the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, and Charlotte Hornets.
However, in 2017, the 7-foot center decided to return to Georgetown University, where his legend began as head coach. After a slow start with the Hoyas, Pat led them to clinch the No. 8 seed in the Big East Tournament. With the grand showdown set in MSG, they were set to face the No. 1 seed Villanova Wildcats in the QFs after they beat No. 9 seed Marquette in the first round.
Eventually, freshman guard Dante Harris's pair of free throws decided the game in Georgetown’s favor. Though the excitement was through the roof, ‘Hoya Destroya’ was seemingly upset about another aspect—being stopped in the hallway at the Garden, where security personnel seemed unaware of his legendary status.
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Ewing sounded off on how he was treated
Following the impressive win, while Pat was understandably pleased with the Hoyas’ performance, he expressed his disappointment regarding MSG’s security staff, who had failed to show him the respect he felt he deserved.
"I thought this was my building. And I feel terrible that I’m getting stopped, accosted, and asked for passes. Everybody in this building should know who the hell I am," Ewing said. "I’m getting stopped, I can't move around this building, and I'm like, 'What the hell? Is this Madison Square Garden?' I'm going to going to have to call Mr. Dolan and say, 'Geez, is my number in the rafters or what?'"
From Ewing’s experience to the infamous incident when Charles Oakley was ejected from the arena, numerous old-school stars have felt disrespected at a venue where they were once revered. This trend has left a bad taste in many former legends, and hopefully, the franchise has taken steps to address this issue.
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