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NBA Draft: Each team’s greatest draft pick of all-time

By Daniel Lubofsky

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Greatest draft pick in New York Knicks history: Patrick Ewing

Throughout the course of NBA history, there have been a number of consensus No. 1 overall picks capable of instantly changing the fortunes of a franchise. Their supporting cast doesn’t matter. Neither does the organization. These players have a talent level that masks nearly everything, even at such an early age.

Coming out of Georgetown, Patrick Ewing was one of those guys who would change the course of whichever team was lucky enough to select him. As fate (and maybe David Stern) would have it, he found himself a member of the New York Knicks, where his impact would be felt at both ends of the court for well over a decade.

In 15 seasons in the Big Apple, Ewing would average 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and a dominating 2.7 blocks per game. He was the Knicks go-to option in the post, and in the golden age of elite centers, Pat was tasked with slowing down some of the games best on a nightly basis.

After two seasons of playoff-less basketball, Ewing would lead the Knicks to 13 consecutive postseason appearances with one of the most physical defensive teams of all time, spearheaded by their man in the middle.

The highlight of this decade-plus long run was the 1993-94 season, where the Knicks game within one win of their first NBA championship since 1973. Unfortunately, the basketball gods had other plans, instead choosing to gift that years’ title to the Houston Rockets.

New York would return to the Finals as an improbable eighth seed in 1999, but Ewing’s body only lasted until the conference finals where the reveal of a partial Achilles tear knocked him out before Game 3.

Like so many others tasked with getting past Michael Jordan in the 1990s, a championship is one of the few things to elude Ewing over the course of his Hall of Fame career. Despite the lack of jewelry, he is still beloved by Knicks fans everywhere, the franchises all-time leader in points, rebounds and blocks, whose talent and impact coming into the NBA was as good as advertised.

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