Today in Sports History: December 16

By Veronica An

In a 1993 New York Knicks versus Los Angeles Lakers game, Patrick Ewing reached 14, 618 career points. Ewing’s second-quarter jump shot helped him outpace Walt Frazier who previously held the Knick’s record for career points. Ewing was selected as the first round first pick of the 1985 NBA draft and played center for the Knicks until 2000. Ewing proved himself as one fo the greatest centers in the league; after averaging 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game his first season. He was voted NBA rookie of the Year and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Ewing played on two Finals games with the Knicks (1994 and 1999) and won Olympic gold medals as a member of the 1984 and 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball teams. In 2000, he was traded to the Seattle Super Sonics where he averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, and averaged better than a 50% shooting percentage. Ewing played this final (2001-2) season with the Orlando Magic then took a job as assistant coach to the Washington Wizards. Ewing was inducted into the Hal of Fame in 2008 and us currently the head coach of his former college team, the Georgetown Hoyas.

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