NBA Draft: Every team’s best pick ever

Jun 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) speaks to the media during a press conference after game four of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors won 108-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Charlotte Hornets assistant head coach Patrick Ewing waves to the crowd during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing, No. 1, 1985 NBA Draft

The Knicks best draft pick is Patrick Ewing — the pick that inspired a thousand conspiracy theorists — how could it be anyone else? Ewing was the first overall pick in the 1985 draft, which was the first year the NBA implemented the draft lottery. When David Stern allegedly reached in for the frozen envelope, the Knicks won the rights to select one of the greatest college players of all time.

After an impressive career at Georgetown University, Ewing entered the NBA and won the Rookie of the Year award, was named to 11 All-Star teams, and had his number retired by the Knicks after a tremendous 15-year career with the team. An NBA championship remained frustratingly out of his grasp but Ewing presided over one of the most successful stretches of New York basketball. If it wasn’t for Michael Jordan, Ewing might well have brought a title to Madison Square Garden.

A defensive force who could score in the post or step out and hit a jumpshot, Ewing was regularly one of the best centers in the league, anchoring his team on both ends of the floor. Ewing was the face of the franchise from the day he was drafted until he was traded to the Seattle Supersonics in 2000.

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