Living in the Shadows: A Patrick Ewing Jr. Story

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Living in the Shadows: A Patrick Ewing Jr. Story

What makes professional sports so compelling?

Is it the history—the moments that live forever, passed down from generation to generation?

Is it the fans, whose passion turns arenas into cathedrals?

Those elements shape the spectacle. But at the heart of every sport are the players—the legends who define eras.

In basketball, names like Michael Jordan echo through time. In baseball, Babe Ruth remains immortal. These are players whose careers are measured not just in numbers, but in championships, accolades, and myth.

But what happens when the legend has a son?

Does greatness transfer from father to child?
Is talent inherited—or earned?

Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest centers in NBA history. An 11-time All-Star. Rookie of the Year. A member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players. A Hall of Famer. Today, he stands on the sideline as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, his legacy firmly cemented.

So where does that leave Patrick Ewing Jr.?

Standing 6'8" instead of his father’s towering 7'0", Ewing Jr. never fit the mold people wanted him to fill. That height—impressive by any standard—only became a point of comparison. A reminder that he wasn’t him.

Skill-wise, the contrast grew louder. Patrick Ewing learned basketball late, discovering the game in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and rising to dominance at Georgetown before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. His son followed him to Georgetown by way of Indiana, but the results told a different story. Patrick Ewing Jr. averaged 4.1 points as a freshman and 6.1 as a sophomore—numbers forever stacked against his father’s 15.3-point collegiate average.

And so the narrative was written for him.

The son of greatness.
The shadow of a legend.
Never quite enough.

But that narrative ignores the player.

Patrick Ewing Jr. is athletic, a strong defender, an exceptional leaper, and a high-IQ basketball mind. This is not a story about failure, or about tearing down a player for what he isn’t. This is a story about opportunity—and how rarely he was allowed to be his own player.

From the moment he picked up a basketball, expectations followed him. The media never let him breathe. Every step was measured against a career that was never his to live.

This story is about giving Patrick Ewing Jr. one more chance.
A fair chance.
A chance to step out of the shadows—not as Patrick Ewing’s son, but as Patrick Ewing Jr., the basketball player.

Originally written in 2011 on the Operations Sports forums, this was my first-ever NBA 2K association—my first chise, my first sports story. Now, all these years later, I’m returning to it.

This is a remaster.
A rewrite.
A second chance—both for the story, and for the player at its center.

Because some legacies aren’t about living up to history.
They’re about rewriting it.

Platform: NBA 2K11 PC
Rosters: 2011-12 In Progress (D-League) (RMJH4)
Season Length: 82 games (50 D-League Games)

Team Chemistry: On
Player Roles: On
Trade Deadline: On
Trade Override: Off
Allow CPU Trades: On
Draft: WarpedHalfling's Draft Classes
Playoffs: 7-7-7-7
Difficulty: All-Star
Lineup Management: On
Simulation Strategy: On
Prospect Scouting: On
Player Trading: On
Player Roles: On
Staff Contracts: On
Player Contracts: On
Pre Draft Workouts: On
NBA Draft: On
Training Camps: On

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Schedule.

2011-12 Season.

Game 1 - Maine Red Claws 88 – 86 ​Austin Toros.
Game 2 Austin Toros 82 – 95 Maine Red Claws.
Game 3 Maine Red Claws 115 – 110 Springfield Armor.
Game 4 Maine Red Claws 112 – 97 Springfield Armor.
Game 5 Maine Red Claws 114 – 97 Springfield Armor.
Game 6 Fort Wayne Mad Ants 94 – 95 Maine Red Claws.
Game 7 Springfield Armor 86 – 102 Maine Red Claws.
Game 8 Maine Red Claws 98 - 82 Erie Bayhawks.
Game 9 Maine Red Claws 86 - 84 Erie Bayhawks.
Game 10 Idaho Stampede 91 - 97 Maine Red Claws.
Game 11 Maine Red Claws 82 - 93 Springfield Armor.
Game 12 Idaho Stampede 86 - 93 Maine Red Claws.
Game 13 Maine Red Claws 107 - 104 Iowa Energy.
Game 14 Springfield Armor 81 – 72 Maine Red Claws.

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Rumors and Standings.

2011-12 Season.

Patrick Ewing Jr. Sign for Maine Red Claws.


NBA D-League Standings.

2011-12.

December 3rd, 2011.

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Team Rosters and Depth Chart.

Maine Red Claws.

2011-12 Roster and Depth Chart.

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Storyline.

2011-12 Season.


Ewing’s Epilogues: Episode 1.
Ewing’s Epilogues: Episode 2
Ewing’s Epilogues: Episode 3
Ewing’s Epilogues: Episode 4.

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Patrick Ewing Jr. The story so far.

Ewing Jr. was chosen as the 43rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Soon afterwards, he signed a contract with the Kings. He was later traded to the Houston Rockets in a five-player deal that brought Ron Artest to the Rockets. On August 29, 2008, Ewing Jr. followed in his father's footsteps once again, when he was traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for the rights of former first round pick Frédéric Weis.

After some initial speculation that he would wear his father's retired number 33, Ewing Jr. took number 6 in honor of his favorite player Bill Russell. Number 6 was also his father's number in his final season in the NBA with the Orlando Magic and on the USA Dream Team.

Ewing Jr. played in two Knicks pre-season games prior to making his New York debut in Knicks final pre-season game on October 24, 2008. Ewing Jr. entered the game in the 4th quarter to a thunderous ovation by the Madison Square Garden crowd. Ewing Jr. helped fuel Knicks' late rally, where the Knicks would come back from a 21-point deficit. Ewing Jr. had two dunks, a three-pointer, a steal and a blocked shot. He had seven fourth-quarter points. In total, he played 3 pre-season games for the Knicks, averaging 8.1 minutes, 3.7 points and 1.7 rebounds. On October 27, 2008, Ewing Jr. was waived by the Knicks in order to get the roster down to the maximum of 15 players for the start of the 2008-09 season.

Ewing Jr. was signed by Knicks D-League affiliate, Reno Bighorns on December 15, 2008. On the day he signed, Ewing Jr. He made his D-League debut against Utah Flash, recording 15 points. After his first 30 games with the Bighorns, Ewing Jr. had averaged 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game with an efficiency rating of +20.00.

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Ewing’s Epilogues: Episode 1

Enough is enough.

I’ve been bumming around all offseason. Early mornings, empty gyms, shooting jumpers at the local high school like a ghost haunting the place. It keeps me sharp, sure—but it’s not the league. It’s not where I belong.

The NBA season is back. Tip-offs, packed arenas, highlights every night. I try to watch, I really do. Mostly for Dad. I’ll sit through a Magic game just to see him on the bench. But the Knicks? The Bobcats? I can’t do it anymore. That feeling in my chest—it’s not pride. It’s frustration.

It’s November now, and nobody’s called.
No agent updates.
No front office check-ins.

Surely they still have my number.

The D-League Draft came and went without my name being called. That one stung. I had a solid run with Reno before—played my role, defended, rebounded, did the dirty work. I can’t wrap my head around them passing on me. Maybe they’re just going in a different direction. Younger. Cheaper. New faces.

Sioux Falls crossed my mind. I played well there. Really well. But I didn’t love it. Still, I thought I’d already proven something with Charlotte—that I was past the MCL injury, that my legs were right again, that I could move, jump, defend. Guess I was wrong.

Maybe it’s time to stop waiting and start looking.

I pull up the preliminary D-League rosters. Springfield, Massachusetts catches my eye. Not bad. Short drive from Boston. Familiar territory. I scan the names: Earl Clark. Derrick Brown. Da’Sean Butler. Chris Hunter.

Damn.

They’re loaded in the frontcourt. Talented guys, legit NBA-level bodies. I know I’ve got game, but cracking that rotation wouldn’t be easy. Minutes would be scarce, and I’m not looking to sit at the end of another bench.

Alright—what else is nearby?

Portland, Maine.

I dig a little deeper. Marcus Landry. Pete Morrison. Eddy Curry.

Wait—Eddy Curry?

I didn’t even know he was back in the D-League. I wonder if he’s in shape. Still, jokes aside, they’re thin up front beyond that. There might be an opening there. Only problem? It’s a two-hour drive. Not ideal, but not impossible.

Then it clicks.

The Maine Red Claws.

I played against them last season. They weren’t great, but they’re young—only their second year in the league. Still finding their identity. More importantly, they’re affiliated with the Boston Celtics… and the Charlotte Bobcats.

That gets my attention.

Boston means exposure. Structure. A real system.
Charlotte means familiarity. A place where I’ve already shown I can contribute.

This might be it.

I think it’s time to make a call.

Dad’s busy down in Orlando—practice, film sessions, scouting reports—but he always has time for me. Always has.

Time to stop drifting.
Time to make a move.

Jr out.

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Patrick Ewing Jr. Sign for Maine Red Claws

November 4 2011.
 
Patrick Ewing Jr. has signed a 1yr $12k deal with the Maine Red Claws. The Maine Red Claws are based in Portland, Maine. They are currently the D-League affiliate of the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats.

Ewing Jr. was born and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. The trip to Portland is relatively short, and a strong reason Ewing Jr. approached the Red Claws about playing for them. After an uneventful summer due to the CBA negotiations, Ewing Jr. was left unsigned by an NBA or D-League team. It just so happened that the Red Claws needed a power forward to fill out their roster.

The Red Claws had already signed some notable former NBA players, Eddy Curry and Mickael Gelabale. Patrick Beverly and Allan Ray were also signed. Ewing Jr. seen some potential in the roster and decided to contact the Maine front office himself. Well we’d be lying if we didn’t say Pat Ewing Snr. didn’t have a quiet word or two…

An experienced D- League player such as Ewing Jr. will add greatly to the team, and coach Austin Ainge believes they can make a real run at the NBDL playoffs this year, in only their second year in existence.

Coach Ainge is the son of Celtics current GM Danny Ainge. Ewing Jr. hopes that a solid season with the Red Claws could lead to some interest from his hometown Celtics in picking him up as minor role player. The perennial championship contenders are where Ewing Jr. would one day like to ply his trade. His hometown team. One can always dream, right? But for now, Ewing Jr. is just happy to have a team. Let’s see what he can make of this opportunity.

 
Coach Ainge is pleased with the Red Claws lastest signing

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Ewing’s Epilogues: Episode 2

​Had the first meet and greet with the Red Claws today. Some good ballers here that I’m really looking forward to playing with. Eddy Curry seems to have gotten himself into some better shape. He said he’s down from over 300lbs for the first time in a year! Hope he can keep that going! I knew Marcus Landry a little from going to Knicks games last year, he’s a nice guy and I think we’ll be facing off in practice quite a bit this year. He played for the Red Claws at the start of last season too.

Allan Ray is a streaky shooter from the Bronx, and plays a little like his namesake Ray Allen! He can really light it up. I know from watching some Celtics shoot around’s in the past. It’s nice to have a shooter like him to play on the outside, gives you more space to work in the post. Mickael Gelabale has bounced around the league over the last few years and been on lots of preseason rosters.. I know he can play, and the 6-7 French small forward adds a different dimension to every team he has played with in Europe.

Demetrius Nichols is another guy who, has similar traits on the court, but can also go off some nights and really score. He was born and grew up in Boston like myself, but we were from different parts of town. He had a great career with Syracuse. He’s also played for the Knicks, along with Jared Jordan. Not for much longer than I did either. It’s gonna be interesting seeing these guys and bouncing our stories of one another at practices!

There seems to be a nice mix of youth and experience here, something which I didn’t really have at Reno or Siouxfalls the last few years. Guys that have been role players with NBA teams, and guys that have very recently excelled in college. Pete Morrison out of TCU and Patrick Beverley spring to mind. Really looking forward to our first week’s preseason training should be interesting.

Austin Ainge seems like a nice guy, Danny’s son. He has a great career with BYU and still works very closely with the Celtics head office. But by far and away the most exciting part of the day was when The Big Oak Tree walked through the door. Charles Oakley who had been an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats last season, would be helping Austin Ainge out this year.

The Bobcats (MJ) wanted a more hands on approach with the Red Claws this year and has asked him to join the coaching staff. Due to his ongoing back problems, Oakley wanted a lighter travel schedule and the D-League offers him that. Should be good to learn from him, and I seem to remember watching him and dad involved in a few battles for the Knicks over the years. Man we could have a former Knicks/NY born starting 5 here! Wait till dad hears this!

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HEAD COACH: Austin Ainge
ASSISTANT COACH: Charles Oakley
ASSISTANT COACH FOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Cam Twiss
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Ed Lacerte