For as long as he was a Knick, Patrick Ewing worked towards a championship that eluded him. Now that he's out of the game and watching from the sidelines, he's been observing the young sensation who came close to stealing the championship from his former squad.

While speaking with Clutchpoints reporter Hector Ledesma in person following the 2026 NBA Finals, Ewing stated, "I love him. I love him. I think he's special. All the things that I've seen, I think he is special. I think he's going to have a tremendous career."

Considering Wembanyama's production throughout the series, Ewing's praise is quite meaningful. In all five games, the Spurs centre shot 42.3% from the field and averaged 26.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks.

Although the Knicks won the series 4-1, Wembanyama's performance was so impressive that it resonated with even his opponents.

Wembanyama considered the lesson he could take away from the setback for his future growth after the loss.

"I think compared to anything before, this is the biggest lesson of my life," Wembanyama told reporters. "The biggest learning moment. I can't tell exactly what the lesson is. But we're learning from that for sure. I'm learning more than at any other time in my life before."

When you consider how the series went downhill, his reaction makes perfect sense. The Spurs were in the lead for 72 percent of the game but ultimately lost four times, including a 29-point deficit in Game 4.

The outcome was even more satisfying for Ewing because this wasn't the first time these two franchises had competed on this stage.

Patrick Ewing's 27 Year Wait Finally Comes to an End

In 1999, with the Knicks seeded eighth in the NBA Finals, Ewing tore his Achilles tendon in the Eastern Conference Finals, forcing him to miss the entire series against the Spurs.

Even though Ewing had his chance at a championship, San Antonio won 4-1 thanks to Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

"It has been a long time coming," Ewing said via Hector Ledesma of ClutchPoints. "The last time we were here in '99, I had tears of sorrow. Today I have tears of joy. It's a dream come true."

"We have had this goal. Myself as a player, as part of the organization, we've had the dream of getting to this point and winning the championship, and we finally achieved it. The last time we were here, Tim and David were having a party against us, but tonight it's ours," Ewing added.

For his performance in that 1999 series, Duncan was named Finals MVP. He averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds. Many think the Knicks' chances of beating the Twin Towers of San Antonio would have been different if Ewing had been healthy, but that game never took place.

This time, the result turned right around. The Knicks won their first championship since 1973 with a 4-1 victory over the Spurs. Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points in the game-winning overtime, was named MVP of the Finals.

How much sweeter is this Knicks title for Ewing now that he gets his championship moment? Comment your thoughts below.

Read more at Air Jordan Chronicles!

Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta