SLAM Hardwood Classics Youth Cover Tee - Patrick Ewing (Before '94)

SLAM’s 75 Before ‘94 project came out during the 75th anniversary celebration of the NBA. Our magazine was founded in 1994, which means we missed decades of brilliance. This project was our homage to all the stars who never got a chance to shine on a SLAM cover. 

Amongst a franchise full of Hall of Famers, champions and All-Stars, there’s a very valid argument to be made that Patrick Ewing is the best Knick ever. 

That argument could center around the numbers. Ewing is the Knicks’ all-time leader in six different statistical categories. He stands alone in total points scored (23,665), total rebounds pulled down (10,759), total shots returned to sender (2,758), total pockets picked (1,061), total games played (1,039) and total minutes played (37,586). That argument has some ground to stand on, right? Pretty reasonable, huh? 

Or the argument for Ewing’s status as best Knick ever could center on something a little less concrete and a lot more difficult to quantify. 

This argument is simple: Ewing was the Knicks. 

He carried the torch from the championship legends of the ‘70s and amplified their passion for hard work and for defense. He sacrificed his body for the city. He improved his offense exponentially, ending his career as one of the best mid-range shooting big men basketball has known. And he never quit. 

This argument states Ewing is the best to wear the blue and orange because the Knicks embodied his identity and the identity of New York. He was a fighter that never gave up even after his shift should have been over far longer than when it actually ended. Every MTA worker down in the subways, every deli owner behind the counter, every teacher faced with sparse resources and every kid with nothing but a dream and a ball at the park could see themselves in Ewing. His impact was that big. 

And that is really why he might be the best Knick ever. Because he was a mirror of New York.