It’s no secret that Patrick Ewing wants an opportunity to coach in the NBA. Although the Hall of Famer isn’t getting the time of day from his former team the Knicks, it appears as though at least one time is willing to give him a shot. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Ewing is set to get an interview for the open head coaching job with the Sacramento Kings.
Ewing, currently an assistant coach for the Hornets, has had stops in Houston, Washington, and Orlando in addition to his current gig with Charlotte since he retired from the league in 2002. Still, this will only be Ewing’s third interview for a head coaching job as he previously met with Charlotte and Detroit in 2011, failing to land either position.
However, what might give him a leg up the coaching job in Sacramento is the potential for him to get the most out of his fellow big man, DeMarcus Cousins.
What makes Ewing an intriguing candidate for Sacramento officials is his potential ability to command the respect of mercurial All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, league sources said. Ewing, a Hall of Fame center, has the unique blend of his own physical and playing stature to go with a strong coaching pedigree as part of staffs with Clifford, Stan Van Gundy and Jeff Van Gundy.
In addition to Ewing, ESPN’s Marc Stein reports the Kings are interested in Sam Mitchell, Vinny Del Negro, and Mark Jackson, while Wojnarowski notes former Knicks coach Mike Woodson and former Trail Blazers head man Nate McMillan will also get interviews.
It’s unclear what has been holding Ewing back from getting his first head coaching job in the league after all those years as an assistant, but it seems like if it’s ever going to happen for him, Sacramento may be the perfect fit.
(Via The Vertical)
