Ewing was born in Kingston, Jamaica; when he was 12 years old, he came to the United States with his family, who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He played college basketball for Georgetown University, where he led the Hoyas to the NCAA championship game in 1982, 1984, and 1985, winning in 1984. By the time he arrived at Georgetown, he had become a naturalized U.S. citizen, making him eligible for membership on the U.S. Olympic team in 1984; he won a gold medal with that team. In 1985 he was selected first overall in the NBA draft by the Knicks. He was a member of the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, winning a second gold medal.
On February 28, 2003 Patrick Ewing's jersey was retired in a big ceremony at Madison Square Garden. He never won a ring for the Knicks, but still is one of the all time top players in this franchise and in fact one of the best centers the league has ever seen. Patrick Ewing continues his career as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets, but in his heart still remains a Knick.