Patrick Ewing

His dominant collegiate performance led to his selection as the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. Ewing quickly established himself as a force in the league, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year title in 1986 and embarking on a storied 15-season career primarily with the Knicks. Throughout his tenure with the New York Knicks, Ewing garnered immense recognition, including 11 NBA All-Star selections between 1986 and 1997. He was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1990 and received All-NBA Second Team honors six times (1988, 1989, 1991–1993, 1997).

In 2008, his legendary contributions to basketball were recognized with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, followed by his induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009 as a member of the ‘Dream Team.’ In 2017, he returned to his alma mater, Georgetown University, to take on the head coach position, guiding the Hoyas to a significant Big East Conference tournament championship in 2021. Ewing’s enduring impact on the sport was further highlighted in 1996 when he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and again in 2021 as one of the 75 Greatest Players in NBA History. In October 2024, Ewing officially rejoined the New York Knicks as a basketball ambassador, continuing his long-standing association with the organization and the sport where he defined a generation.