This stings. A surface-level summary of the history of the NBA in the 1990s is basically: Part of the reason why the series untitled exists is to better explain the era.
I would like to use details and context to show that these oversimplified truths depend on some complex settings, near misses, and fascinating stories. Patrick Ewing’s Knicks wrote some of those stories. Probably the most tragic. Ewing spent almost all of his legendary career in New York, with almost all of his stints competing for the championship.
But yes, Jordan interfered, although the short version of the story wasn’t as definitive as you might think. The bulls were vulnerable at one point, but continued to come an inch or a second after losing to Ewing and his companions.
These inches and seconds represent some of the most unpleasant moments in Knicks’ fandom history. The fate of the Ewing team, who didn’t have to confront (or reach) Jordan, was also uncomfortable. The Pacers, the Heat, and, of course, the team that fell on the rocket of Akeem Orajwon in the brutal 1994 final.
Patrick Ewing retired without a championship, but this untitled episode helps to understand his splendor and how his rivals, fate, and bad timing colluded to stop him. I hope that. This ringless story cannot be told in simple sentences. Secret base..
