Ewing feels for Team USA’s tougher road
Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was also an Olympic legend — part of the original Dream Team in 1992, when NBA stars were first allowed to play on the U.S. Olympic basketball team.
It was a different era, and the American stars glided to a gold medal without a sweat. During the Tokyo Olympics, Ewing, who was teammates with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and John Stockton on the Dream Team, is sharing his memories for Olympic sponsor Airbnb.
“The Big Fella” empathizes with the extra pressure on Gregg Popovich’s club to win gold because of the increased level of international competition since Ewing wore the red, white and blue.
“I’m rooting for Coach Popovich and the U.S. Team,’’ Ewing told The Post in an emailed interview. “It’s an unfortunate time we’re living in right now — losing players to COVID-19 protocols. It’s harder to play now because of the Dream Team. All of the current players grew up looking up to us and watching us dominate the rest of the world. But the rest of the world caught up.
“There are so many talented players. Some of the NBA’s top players today come from all over the world. It wasn’t like that back then.’’
Team USA faces France in its opener at 8 a.m. Sunday. There will be no fans due to the pandemic, but in 1992, The Dream Team was mobbed by the masses.
“My favorite memory from the Dream Team days — forget the games, we were punishing everyone,’’ Ewing said. “But practicing against all those great players. All of us working hard every single day. That was the best. Those practices were unforgettable. The friendships and bonds we created — myself, Larry Bird, Chris Mullin. Those are memories I will never forget.’’
Ewing, now Georgetown’s head coach after many years as an NBA assistant, recently made more Garden memories when his Hoyas won the Big East title at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
He followed the Knicks’ 41-31 pandemic season, too, as his former coach and coaching colleague Tom Thibodeau ran the Knicks’ show.
Thibodeau was an assistant when Ewing played for the Knicks. And Thibodeau and Ewing worked on Jeff Van Gundy’s staff in Houston.
“Tom is an outstanding coach and also a friend,’’ Ewing said. “He has an incredible work ethic, and he is a fantastic coach. You know what they say: Once a Knick, always a Knick.”
The newest Knicks center trying to fill Ewing’s shoes is Mitchell Robinson, who broke Ewing’s rookie record for consecutive blocks in a game with 29.
Robinson still hasn’t shown any of the offensive brilliance Ewing weaved across his Hall of Fame career, but Robinson’s potential as a defensive center is unlimited.
“Mitchell Robinson is a very fine player,’’ Ewing said. “I wish him nothing but the best.’’