5 reasons Patrick Ewing needs to coach the Memphis Grizzlies

By John Buhler | May 13, 2016

Oct 8, 2013; Asheville, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats assistant coach Patrick Ewing stands on the court during a timeout in the game against the Atlanta Hawks at the U.S. Cellular Center.The Hawks defeated the Bobcats 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 19, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford (R) talks to assistant head coach Patrick Ewing (L) during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The next strong branch from a great coaching tree.

What seems to give Ewing a ton of credibility as a potential NBA head coach is that he is the next strong branch from an elite NBA coaching tree. Ewing played for and served under Jeff Van Gundy in New York and with the Houston Rockets, respectively. He has since followed Van Gundy disciple Clifford to Charlotte with this exciting Hornets team.

The Van Gundy coaching tree has branches all over the NBA and rivals the Gregg Popovich tree as arguably the most impressive collection of coaches in the NBA today. Other Van Gundy disciples include his older brother and Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy, former Chicago Bulls and current Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, and former New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.

All of those coaches have taken teams to the playoffs and come from a solid foundation of defense-first basketball. Thibodeau may be the most intellectually gifted of the branches, but all have had rampant success coaching in the NBA for the last decade plus.

Ewing has learned from some great coaches as an assistant, but let’s not forget the impact that both former Georgetown Hoyas head coach John Thompson and former Knicks head coach Pat Riley have had on the Hall of Fame center.

He has great coaching connections and would probably be the most prepared first-time head coach since Mike Budenholzer left Popovich’s staff in San Antonio to become the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks in 2013-14. Ewing is as ready as he has ever been for this kind of opportunity.

Next: 3. Would make the most of his first head coaching opportunity.

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