Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing has been sitting on the sidelines for quite some time. The 54-year-old Knicks’ Hall of Famer has served as an assistant coach for three teams since he retired in 2002 (Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic) and currently serves as the Charlotte Hornets associate head coach since 2013.
By most accounts, he is long overdue for a shot at being a head coach.
Ewing was a true center in his day, dominating the paint and causing havoc on the defensive end.
He is the Knicks’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals.
He is also an icon.
His NBA presence and legacy are such that the young Sixers big men like Embiid, Okafor, and Noel can learn from both defensively and offensively. Footwork around the rim seems to be an issue for all of them. Some of that challenge can be attributed to injury and inexperience. Still, a few seasons mentored by the HOF big man would definitely improve their contributions in the post: whether that be through scoring, defending, or rebounding.