New York legend Patrick Ewing confirms positive COVID-19 test

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Hall-of-Fame center Patrick Ewing is introduced as the new head coach of Georgetown University at the Athletic Center in Washington, DC April 5, 2017. /VCG

Former New York Knicks Hall-of-Fame center, current head coach of Georgetown University Patrick Ewing tested positive for coronavirus, announced the school and the coach himself on Friday.

"Georgetown University's Head Men's Basketball Coach has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus … Ewing is under care and isolated at a local hospital. He is the only member of the Georgetown men's basketball program to have tested positive for the virus," said the school in a statement.

"I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones," said Ewing in a statement.

Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls and Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks tussles for postition in the game at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, 1993. /VCG

As one of the top two centers (the other is Willis Reed Jr.) in the Knicks' franchise history, Ewing entered the NBA in 1985 when he was selected by the team with the first overall draft pick. In his 15 years at Madison Square Garden (MSG), Ewing was an 11-time All-Star. On February 28, 2003, the team retired his No. 33 jersey in a grand ceremony at home.

In China, Ewing is known as one of the top four centers in the 1990s with Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson, though Ewing was probably the least fortunate of the four. He was pinned down by Michael Jordan in the first 13 years of his career. In 1994 when Jordan was absent from basketball, Ewing led the Knicks to the NBA Finals for the first time but lost to Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. After Jordan retired in 1998, the Knicks again made the finals but Ewing suffereda season-ending injury in the Eastern Conference Finals. He had to sit on the bench, watching his team lose to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1.

Patrick Ewing of Georgetown University celebrates after defeating the University of Houston in the NCAA Final at the the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington, April 2, 1984. /VCG

By contrast, Ewing's college career was more successful. Though he and Georgetown lost to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill thanks to young Jordan's buzzer beater in the 1982 NCAA Final, two years later, Ewing led Georgetown to beat the University of Houston Led by Olajuwon to win the school's only title in franchise history.