Patrick Ewing on Knicks' coaching job: 'If I get a call, I'll be ready'

It's no secret that NBA legend Patrick Ewing has long wanted to expand his basketball legacy to include a head coaching career.

Still, a dozen years since retirement, the 7-footer has been left to bounce between teams as a player development coach or assistant, first with Washington, then Houston, Orlando and Charlotte. This season he got his first taste of head coaching, filling in for a single game in place of Steve Clifford in November when Clifford was away ill, but that's hardly the same.

And so, with 17 years playing experience and another 12 on benches, Ewing has built a resume that should make him a candidate sometime soon. He also happened to play 15 seasons for the New York Knicks, who have a coaching vacancy right now.

Don't think Ewing hasn't noticed that connection.

“My family's still there I still have a home there,” Ewing said Saturday. “I don't know what is going to happen in terms of who they're going to have to fill that void. But if I get a call, I'll be ready."

The Knicks, however, are said to be awaiting a decision from Derek Fisher, and new president Phil Jackson is assumed to want one of his triangle offense disciples for the job.