Patrick Ewing has had four arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee. Yesterday, his left knee was scoped.
You knew about the bad right foot in the playoffs. You knew about the back spasms. Turns out Ewing’s left knee was throbbing from cartilage damage during the Knicks’ playoff run.
Yesterday, the 37-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery to the left knee at Beth Israel Hospital. Although he probably will have to rehabilitate the knee for at least a month, team spokesperson Lori Hamamato said Ewing is expected to be healthy by training camp in early October. Ewing will begin rehabilitation next week.
Ewing’s knees have been wracked with tendinitis for years, but recently he has been bothered more by other miseries, including a torn Achilles’ tendon last year and a broken wrist in 1997.
Ewing had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in 1986, 1989, 1994 and 1995. Three of those surgeries came after the season.
Ewing believes he can play beyond the contract that ends next season at $16 million a year. But you have to wonder how much slower and rickety he’ll be.
Ewing is expected to seek a contract extension, but the club is in no hurry to extend it.
Ewing missed two games during the playoffs – both Knick victories over the Pacers – because of tendinitis in his left foot. When he returned to the lineup, the Knicks lost the last two games.
In the past two years, the Knicks are 5-1 against the Pacers in the playoffs when playing without Ewing and are 1-5 when he is in the lineup. They are able to play at a quicker pace against the Pacers and don’t have to compensate for him lagging behind on the break.
Ewing’s playoff statistics were almost identical to his regular season stats. In the playoffs, Ewing averaged 14.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. In the regular season, Ewing averaged 15 points and 9.7 rebounds in the regular season.