The day after Georgetown’s surprise victory in the Big East men’s basketball tournament, Patrick Ewing received great praise from one of his former NBA coaches.
According to ESPN’s Ian O’Connor, Miami Heat president Pat Riley explained why he’d like to play for a manager like Ewing.
“If I was a high school player and I was really good, I would like to go with someone who didn’t want to kiss my ass, who trained me to death and made me feel better. I guarantee I would. Play for Patrick Ewing,” Riley said. .
Riley coached Ewing with the New York Knicks for four seasons from 1991 to 1995. They made the playoffs every year, including an appearance in the 1994 NBA Finals.