The Draft That Changed Everything

June 19, 1985. The NBA Draft Lottery was still in its infancy, but the New York Knicks hit the jackpot: Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing, a 7-foot defensive anchor with hands softer than a Midwest winter is long. The Knicks’ official social media post today got me crunching numbers—because behind every “legend” tag (see: 22.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG career averages) lies data begging to be visualized.

By the Numbers: Ewing’s Unmatched Impact

• Defensive Win Shares: 93.4 (Top 10 all-time among centers)
• Playoff PER: 22.1 (Higher than Shaq’s rookie season)
• Olympic Dominance: Shot 70% in ’84 and ’92 Games—proof he thrived under pressure.

Fun fact: Ewing’s rookie year blocks (2.1 per game) would rank 3rd in today’s pace-and-space NBA. My algorithm flags his mid-range efficiency (45% from 15+ feet in ’90-91) as borderline revolutionary for a big man.

Why the Knicks’ Bet Paid Off

Drafting Ewing wasn’t just about talent—it was timing. The ’85 Knicks had a -6.3 net rating pre-draft; by ’89, they were +3.2 with Ewing as the axis. Compare that to Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets (+1.8 swing over same period), and you see why New York’s front office still celebrates this pick 39 years later.

Cold Hard Truth: Advanced stats suggest Ewing’s peak (1990-94) was statistically comparable to David Robinson’s—just with fewer marketing deals.

Final Takeaway

Ewing’s legacy isn’t measured in rings (sorry, Knicks fans). It’s in the decades of big men trying—and failing—to replicate his footwork/post-up combo. Want proof? Today’s “unicorns” shoot threes because facing another Ewing remains… unappealing.