Patrick Ewing is heading back to the bench.
After spending the past few seasons around the Knicks as an advisor and ambassador, Ewing has taken an assistant coaching job with the Washington Wizards, giving him another shot to work toward the coaching role he has wanted.
For New York fans, Ewing has always been one of the franchise’s defining names. He spent more than a decade as the team’s star, and that long connection is part of why he stayed tied to the organization in an off-court role.
Now he’s moving into a different setting with Washington, where Brian Keefe’s staff is continuing to grow. The Wizards have been making changes across the organization, and the coaching group is part of that push.
Ewing brings obvious value on two fronts: he has coached before, and he also knows what it means to carry the weight of being an NBA star. That combination should make him a useful voice for players throughout the roster.
He can be a mentor for a young player like AJ Dybansta, while also offering help to the bigger bodies on the team, including Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis, and Deandre Ayton.
The Wizards also added another experienced voice in former Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, who has joined Keefe’s staff as well.
With that kind of experience around the bench, Washington is building a staff that could make some noise. The roster has veterans such as Davis and Trae Young who can help in the regular season, while younger pieces like Dybantsa and Sarr give the team a path to a higher ceiling down the line.
In Other News...
Vols And Lady Vols Just Put Tennessee Orange Front And Center
Tennessee Athletics spent the week putting a brighter shade of orange in the spotlight, rolling out new adidas uniforms across a wide swath of its programs. The reveal came with high-definition photos and detailed looks at football, mens basketball, Lady Vols basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer, giving fans a first real glimpse at how the new partnership is going to show up on the field and the court.
For coaches and athletic officials, the uniforms were only part of the message. The broader adidas deal was framed as a resource boost for the department, with leaders talking up the support and investment that could come with it. The visual reset is already doing its job, but the bigger question is how quickly that momentum turns into something more meaningful for Tennessees programs. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Offensive Line Just Earned The Kind Of SEC Respect That Matters
With Tennessee likely turning to a new quarterback this season, the Volunteers are leaning on the one part of the offense that already looks established. Most of the offensive line is back, and that matters even more when the next passer in line is expected to be either George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon, two young quarterbacks with limited college experience. In a league where protection and communication can make or break a season, Tennessees front has already drawn notice as one of the better units in the SEC.
Analyst Steven Lassan ranked the Vols line third in the conference, behind Georgia and Texas, which is the kind of recognition that usually comes with proven depth and continuity. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee has also seen the benefit in spring practice, where returning pieces and experienced transfers have let the group move faster than a typical rebuild. The bigger question now is how that early stability translates once the games start and the pressure falls on a quarterback who has not taken many college snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees First Orange Adidas Uniform Reveal Will Have Vols Talking
The first look at Tennessees orange home uniforms under Adidas has already given Vols fans a fresh talking point as the program opens a new chapter in its apparel partnership. The reveal marks the start of the Adidas era for Tennessee football, with the university rolling out the new look as part of a broader week of uniform unveilings and a July 10 date set for jerseys and merchandise to hit the market.
Josh Heupel has sounded upbeat about what the partnership can bring, pointing to the resources Adidas can provide and the reach of the Tennessee brand. More designs are still on the way, including white, Summitt Blue and Dark Mode looks, and the real intrigue now is how all of it will translate once the Vols start showing off the full set this fall. [Read more 🡒]