I laughed a little bit, stopped, and then laughed some more on the fact that any person who understood basketball would find Patrick Ewing an overrated player. Yes, in college he was the best center of his time and in the league players like Hakeem and Shaq stripped him of that title, while Jordan stripped him of a championship. However, how can a player that MADE a franchise and put up brilliant stats his whole career be viewed as an overrated player?
According to Colin these facts are of an overrated player:
- Rookie of the Year (1986)
- All-NBA First Team (1990)
- All-NBA Second Team (1988, '89, '91, '92, '93, '97)
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1988, '89, '92)
- 11-time All-Star; One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
- 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92)
- NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1984)
- 1985 College Player of the Year
- Number 33 Retired for the New York Knicks
- 2008 hall of fame
- In 1999, Ewing became the 10th player in NBA history to record 22,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.
- In 1993 he led the NBA with 789 defensive rebounds. He was top ten in field goal percentage 8 times, top ten in rebounds per game as well as total rebounds 8 times, top ten in points, as well as points per game 8 times, and top ten in blocks per game for 13 years.
These are tremendous highlights of an amazing career.
I understand centers like Shaq and Robinson have better stats and rings, but that doesn't make the 2nd best shooting center of all time's career unworthy of the recognition he has received.
I would love to get comments on this topic because I think (not because I'm a NY fan) a player like Patrick Ewing is an NBA great and shold not be touched.
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5 months ago
...because Ewing never produced in the clutch and made boasts and claims without backing them up, Ewing is an overrated player. That doesn't mean he was a bad player or wasn't a great player, but among the All-Time greats, Ewing doesn't compare.
5 months ago
I don't think Ewing is "overrated" by any stretch. If anything, the career he had is relatively underrated because he never won the title. Ewing was one of the last great true centers of the NBA, and it just so happened that he was one of the best of all time as well. The only thing standing in the way of him being an all-time great was the ring, but in the age of Jordan it was pretty tough to get one. Just ask Karl Malone, one of the best scorers of all time. Is he overrated because he couldn't beat Jordan? Even though he dominated the West in the 90s? Not by a long shot. I think this is a similar argument.
5 months ago
Malone was overrated in the sense that Chicago single teamed him with Rodman in the Finals and Malone couldn't beat the single teams. The best players always make defenses pay for single teaming, or at least, the majority of the time.
And Ewing wasn't exactly this commanding post presence. A lot of his points came on jumpers or his sweeping right hooks. Not exactly backing you down and dominating you close to the basket.
5 months ago
You wanna see an all-time great? Look up Olajuwon, Hakeem (aka Akeem). This is someone who continually refined his game and got better while Ewing stood, well, Pat! Not only did Ewing fail to live up his hype or boasts, he got embarassed by many of his contemporaries and produced some of the great "unclutch" moments in league history (remember the wide-open finger roll vs the Pacers?) The Knicks even went to the Finals with him on the bench! I can't really remember ever seeing a time where Ewing just went beast and DOMINATED a series or game even--a regular occurrence for Hakeem and Shaq...I'd say Ewing is far better than mediocre but less than great.
from 5 months ago
I agree with you wholeheartedly Anon.
5 months ago
EWING NEVER STOOD! HE WAS STALLED BY INJURIES AND STILL FOUGHT AND PUT UP MONSTER POINTS. I BELIEVE OLAJUWON NEVER SUFFERED TO INJURY IN THE START AND END OF HIS CAREER ( eye socket injury during the 1990-1991 season...lol) AND THAT'S IT.
from 5 months ago
The stats you prove only make Colin Cowherd right. Gr8 players dont make All NBA 1st Team only once in their career. It's like telling me Chris Webber deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Injuries?? Ewing only had 3 NBA seasons where he played less than 60 games, and that's out of 17 NBA seasons. check the facts!!
5 months ago
Bro i never said that ewing was a gr8 player and i never compared him to olajuwon or shaq because I know that you can't. All i was saying is that ewing cannot be an overrated player and deserves to be where he is! Facts, the only injuries your talking about is the ones where he had no other choice but to stay on the bench. I'm talking about overall injuries! He was on the court with injuries his whole career and when he went to the bench he would ice down both his knees after every game! don't talk to me about facts!!!! because the facts placed above are not of an overrated player!
5 months ago
I don't think Patrick is over-rated because I don't get the impression that many people think of him as an all-time great. Is there anyone who thinks he was better than the Dream, Shaq, Russel, Kareem, Wilt? Is there anyone that will make that argument? Ralph makes a good point about his one appearance on the NBA first team. Once in his career was he the best center in the league. Though an admirable accomplishment (I've never made NBA first team) he doesn't stand up with the greats. That said, he's probably a hall-of-famer simply because of the dearth of talent at that position. There's no doubt that he was at least consistently a top three center over a very long career.
5 months ago
Ewing overrated? He was by far one of the top five centers during his era. He may not have a championship--but Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone don't either thanks to Michael and the Bulls.
And in 1995 when he did make it to the Finals, he was clearly going against a better team and in my opinion a better center in Hakeem.
from 5 months ago
*1994
5 months ago
Daniel...I agree completely with your comment. I never said Ewing was an all-time great all I said was that he is an NBA GREAT which is completely different. There is people who do think he is overrated which I think is wrong, hence the article. I know that those stats are not of an all-time great but someone with those numbers at the end of his career cannot be overrated.
You guys are right! He can't be compared to the centers placed above but i didn't say that!
All i said was he is not overrated.
Ralph compared Webber with Patrick which you can't do by the way...
5 months ago
Colin.... Cowherd....
enough said.
He's the same guy that said Elton Brand is better than KG.
5 months ago
The guy isn't overrated. He is rated exactly right. He absolutely is one of the 5 best centers of his generatation and for a year or two was probably the best. No one says Patrick is one of the all time best but he deserves to be a hall of famer and get credit for being who he was: A good center for a good team that never got over the hump.
5 months ago
Colin Cowherd is overrated!
5 months ago
and oh yeah the Colin Cowherd show is overrated too!
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