Being enshrined as a Knicks legend is apparently not enough to escape the security of New York’s Madison Square Garden.
NBA Hall of Fame and Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing looked irritated on Thursday, saying that after Hoyas’ 72-71 victory over Villanova, he was “approached”.
“I thought it was my building,” said Ewing, who has been at the Knicks for 15 years and remains the team’s all-time top scorer in an after-game interview.
“And I feel terrible about being stopped, approached, asking for passes – everyone in this building should know who I am,” said Ewing.
“And I’m being stopped, I can’t move in this building. I was like, ‘What the hell is this Madison Square Garden?'” He said. “I’m going to have to call Mr. Dolan and say, ‘Wow, is my number on the beams or what?'”
The post-game observation video showed that Ewing raised the question after he was asked about a Georgetown player.
The Big East Tournament is being played in the Garden, where there are Covid-19 restrictions. The venue was practically empty of fans, and security protocols prevented Ewing from moving freely.
Ewing and James Dolan, who owns the Knicks and has a long-standing relationship with Ewing, spoke on Thursday, MSG Entertainment said in a statement released by The Associated Press.
“We all know, respect and appreciate what (Ewing) means for The Garden and New York. Good luck to him and his Hoyas in the Big East semifinals,” the statement said.
Ewing’s number, 33, was retired by the Knicks in 2003. He went from 1985 to 2000 with the team.
He was named Georgetown’s head coach, his alma mater, in 2017.
Georgetown defeated Villanova 72-71 on Thursday and advanced to the semifinals for the first time in six years.
The Associated Press contributed.