Is Patrick Ewing In The Nba Hall Of Fame?
Contents
As of right now, Patrick Ewing is not in the NBA Hall of Fame. However, he is eligible for induction and there is a strong case to be made that he belongs in the Hall.
Patrick Ewing’s NBA Career
Patrick Ewing is a retired American professional basketball player who played most of his career with the New York Knicks. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. Let’s take a look at his career.
His years with the Knicks
Patrick Ewing was drafted by the New York Knicks with the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. He would go on to play with the Knicks for 15 seasons, becoming one of the most popular players in franchise history. Ewing was a 11-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team four times. He was also named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986.
Ewing helped lead the Knicks to two NBA Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999, but they were unable to win a championship during his time with the team. He is still the Knicks’ all-time leading scorer with 24,815 points.
After retiring from playing in 2002, Ewing returned to the Knicks as an assistant coach. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets.
His years with the Seattle Supersonics
Following his second season with the Sonics, Ewing was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. He finished the year averaging 22.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. The Supersonics again advanced to the NBA Finals in 1996, but lost in six games to the Chicago Bulls. In Game 3 of that series, Ewing scored 34 points and had 19 rebounds, setting an NBA Finals record for most points in a game by a center.
His years with the Orlando Magic
Patrick Ewing was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in 2000. He played one season for the Sonics, averaging 14.6 points per game. After the 2001 season, his contract was bought out by the Sonics and he became a free agent. Ewing signed with the Orlando Magic, where he played his final NBA season. In his only year with the Magic, Ewing averaged 4.6 points per game in limited playing time. He retired from the NBA after that season.
His Hall of Fame Chances
Patrick Ewing was one of the best players of his generation. He was a 11-time All-Star, won an Olympic gold medal, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. However, he has not been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Why?
His stats
Patrick Ewing was one of the best players of his era. He was a 11-time All-Star, and he was named to the All-NBA First Team three times. He was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Ewing’s individual accomplishments are impressive, but his team success leaves something to be desired. He never won an NBA title, and his teams only made it to the NBA Finals once.
Still, Ewing’s numbers are good enough that he should be in the Hall of Fame. He ranks 11th in NBA history in points scored, and he’s in the top 50 in rebounds and blocks. He’s also one of only four players in NBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for his career.
His impact on the game
In his prime, Ewing was one of the best players in the NBA. He was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a 11-time NBA All-Star, and a three-time All-NBA selection. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986 and was the Most Valuable Player of the 1990 NBA Finals. He is one of only four players in NBA history to have been named to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams in the same season.
Ewing’s career average of 21 points per game ranks him 19th all-time in NBA history, while his average of 9.8 rebounds per game ranks him 10th all-time. He also ranks third all-time in shooting percentage (.519), seventh all-time in blocks per game (2.45), and eighth all-time in total blocks (2,894). In addition, he is one of only four players in NBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for their careers while shooting over 50% from the field.
His legacy
Patrick Ewing is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He was a nine-time All-Star, won Olympic gold in 1984, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. But despite his many accomplishments, Ewing has never been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual player.
There are a few theories as to why Ewing has not been elected to the Hall of Fame. One is that he was never able to win an NBA championship, despite being one of the best players of his generation. Another is that he played for some bad teams during his prime years (namely, the New York Knicks), which may have prevented him from receiving the individual accolades he deserved.
Whatever the reason, Ewing’s Hall of Fame case is certainly a complicated one. But there’s no doubt that he is one of the greatest players in NBA history, and hopefully someday he will receive the recognition he deserves.