- The Washington Times - Friday, May 22, 2020

Georgetown basketball coach and former New York Knicks great Patrick Ewing announced Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Ewing shared the news in a statement released by the university.

“I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly,” Ewing wrote. “I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Now more than ever, I want to thank the health care workers and everyone on the front lines. I’ll be fine and we will all get through this.”

Ewing is being cared for at a local hospital.

The university said Ewing is the only member of the men’s basketball program to have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Ewing has coached the Hoyas for three seasons. He is 49-46 for a .516 winning percentage in 95 career games. The Hoyas finished 15-17 in 2019-20, with seven straight losses to end the season. The Hoyas have yet to reach the NCAA Tournament under Ewing.

Ewing was hired by the Hoyas on April 3, 2017, after 15 years as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic, and was associate head coach with the Charlotte Hornets.

As a player for the Hoyas, Ewing led Georgetown to the 1984 national title and the tournament’s most outstanding player. The Hoyas also reached two other national championship games with the 7-foot Ewing. The three-time first-team All-American averaged 15.3 points per game in four seasons and is second all-time in scoring at Georgetown. He is the school’s all-time leader in total rebounds, blocked shots and games played.

Ewing was drafted No. 1 overall in 1985 after the Knicks won the first NBA lottery. He led the Knicks to the 1994 NBA finals.  Ewing played 15 seasons with the Knicks and 17 overall. He scored 24,815 career points and 11,607 career rebounds. The 11-time NBA All-Star was a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary team and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

“I went to war with you for ten years,” former Knicks teammate Charles Oakley tweeted. “I won’t leave you on the battlefield now. Get well Patrick. More fights ahead.”

While Ewing is the most prominent Washington sports figure to reveal his positive test, he’s not the only one. Redskins rookie wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden announced this week he tested positive in March, but is now fully recovered. Former Redskins great Dexter Manley tested positive for the virus on May 2.

• This article was based in part on wire service reports.

• Kevin Leitzell can be reached at kleitzell@washingtontimes.com.

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