Best Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee from each NBA franchise

Best New York Knicks Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: Patrick Ewing

In the summer of 1985, the NBA was experimenting with the draft lottery system for the very first time. As luck — and possibly a frozen envelope — would have it, the New York Knicks would be awarded the No. 1 overall pick, which meant the right of first refusal on a franchise-altering talent named Patrick Ewing.

Following a stellar four-year collegiate career at Georgetown University, Ewing was expected to fall in line with the legendary centers who came before him. Even better, his presence in the Big Apple would revitalize a sunken yet historic franchise.

The progression would take a couple of years, but Ewing eventually wound up leading the Knicks back into the playoffs, where they would stay for the remainder of his tenure with the team. He was elite at both ends over 15 seasons, averaging 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

He helped the Knicks foster an identity that was a perfect fit for the backdrop of New York City. Their teams of the 1990s brought a relentless toughness and physicality to each contest. Even upon getting to the bucket, the opposition would have to get by the lanky seven-footer, and it was Ewing who won that battle more often than not.

Ewing led the Knicks back to the top of the Eastern Conference, but it was never enough to take home a championship, not with Michael Jordan in his path. The closest they came was in 1994, where a run to the Finals got them to Game 7 only to succumb to the Houston Rockets.

When the Knicks won the 1985 lottery, there were dreams of ending a title drought that’s lasted since 1973. Unfortunately, it’s a streak still growing. Nobody could fault Ewing for trying, though, the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, a level of production that certainly lived up to the hype.