Patrick Ewing complains of security harassment at MSG despite playing there for 15 years
Georgetown coach complained of being stopped at MSG arena during tournament
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Your support makes all the difference.NBA legend Patrick Ewing has slammed security at Madison Square Garden for “accosting” him in the building where he was a Hall of Fame player.
Ewing starred in the Manhattan arena for 15 years as a New York Knick, but says he was treated badly there this week when he returned as a college basketball coach.
Georgetown coach Ewing, who is 7ft tall and has his jersey hanging in MSG, complained that he has been repeatedly stopped by security guards.
“I thought this was my building,” said an annoyed Ewing after a game on Thursday.
“And I feel terrible that I’m getting stopped, accosted, asking for passes. Everybody in this building should know who the hell I am.
“And I’m getting stopped. I can’t move around this building. I was like, ‘What the hell? Is this Madison Square Garden?’”
Ewing said he was asked for his pass so many times he considered calling Knicks owner Jim Dolan to complain.
“I’m going to have to call Mr Dolan and say geez, is my number in the rafters or what?” he added.
Ewing, along with Derek Jeter and Lawrence Taylor, is one of the most famous athletes ever to play in New York.
He was an 11-time NBA All Star and was the number one overall pick for the Knicks in 1985, playing for the team until 2000.
“Jim and Patrick have a long-standing relationship; they spoke this afternoon and reaffirmed that. We all know, respect and appreciate what he means to The Garden and New York,” said an MSG spokesperson in a statement.
Ewing is not the first ex-Knick to feel disrespected at MSG.
In 2017 Charles Oakley was removed form the arena and arrested after an incident with MSG security.
Superfan Spike Lee last year also complained that he was “done” with the Knicks after security stopped him from using an employee entrance at the arena.
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