The Washington Wizards are glimmering with hope this summer after drafting A.J. Dybantsa with the top pick. He’s joining a young squad that’s led by All-Star veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
Under head coach Brian Keefe, the Wizards are expected to transform into a playoff contender next season. Keefe is reportedly calling upon some trusted voices to help him bring that turnaround to fruition in Washington.
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He’s adding Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing as an assistant and longtime NBA coach Steve Clifford as a coaching adviser, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Saturday night.
Ewing’s ties to the D.C. area are indelible. He starred at Georgetown in the ’80s, leading the Hoyas to three Final Four appearances, including in 1984 when he helped them win their lone national championship. Following his illustrious NBA career, which started with him becoming the No. 1 overall pick and featured 11 All-Star campaigns with the New York Knicks, he began his coaching career with the Wizards, first serving as an assistant for the franchise during the 2002-03 season.
After also holding assistant gigs with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, Ewing served as Georgetown’s head coach from 2017-23. He posted a 75-109 record during that six-season tenure, most notably guiding the Hoyas to a Big East tournament title and NCAA tournament appearance in 2021.
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Ewing most recently worked in an ambassador role with the Knicks, who just won their first NBA championship since 1973. The Wizards value Ewing’s legendary status and his ability to communicate with the roster, including Young and Davis, per ESPN.
Ewing and Clifford have overlapped before. They were both assistants for the Magic from 2007-12. And then Ewing coached under Clifford from 2013-17 amid Clifford’s first stint as the Bobcats/Hornets’ head coach. Additionally, Clifford led the Magic from 2018-21 and then the Hornets again from 2022-24.
In his 10 seasons as a head coach, Clifford went 340-461, scattering four playoff appearances along the way. He’s occupied adviser roles similar to the one he’s reportedly taking on in Washington with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns in recent years, according to Charania.
