Dominator Ewing Eyes Role Off Court

Dominating games has become second nature. Patrick Ewing does it naturally. He scores, he rebounds, he blocks shots. He is almost unstoppable offensively and impenetrable defensively.

His effect on his team’s success is as great as any player’s in the National Basketball Association. In a very large way, Patrick Ewing is the New York Knicks. And the Knicks are Patrick Ewing’s.

The bond continues to grow, but as it does, the relationship becomes more complicated. The Knicks have asked for big statistics from Ewing, and he has provided them. The Knicks have asked for leadership from Ewing, and he has begun to give it to them.

In return, Ewing wants respect and cash. He has demanded a huge contract and although no dollar figures have been leaked, it is safe to assume Ewing wants to be the highest-paid player in the game.

Ewing is in the sixth season of a 10-year contract that will pay him more than $30 million, but unless he is one of the four highest-paid players in the game, he could become a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Ewing is earning $4.2 million, but by the end of this season, he will not be among the top four.

Ewing also wants the off-court respect accorded a player of his stature. He would like to be more involved in some of the important decisions made by the team. He would like to be the elder statesman, the player team owners consult when they are contemplating a significant move. Before the Los Angeles Lakers make a big deal, Lakers owner Jerry Buss asks for input from Magic Johnson. Before the Detroit Pistons make a big move, Pistons owner Bill Davidson consults with Isiah Thomas.

Ewing said that is not the case in New York.

“No,” he said, “unfortunately that doesn’t happen here. I’d love for them to come to me. I think they need to make the effort.”

Knicks officials say the opposite is true. After the season ends, Ewing is not always available. In the past, it has been difficult to get Ewing to attend face-to-face meetings, where General Manager Al Bianchi said every player is asked for input on the team.

When Coach Stu Jackson wanted to discuss Ewing asserting himself in a leadership role, Jackson had to drive to Ewing’s home in Washington, D.C., twice to discuss it with him. Jackson said Ewing is becoming more of a force in the organization, but that this is only Ewing’s sixth season and it is not unusual for such a role to develop slowly.

“That’s a new area for him,” Jackson said, “and it’s one that I think myself as well as management would encourage him to do. We’re a team this year, but he’s our superstar. And I think anything he says will be listened to. He’s not done it in the past. ... but with guys like Isiah and (Michael) Jordan, that’s come over time. It’s something that is steadily built. In Patrick’s case, it will continue to build each year. It’s not something that just happens instantly. Even Magic had to work his way into that role. It didn’t take him quite as long as most people, but he’s Magic.”

With the Knicks, however, there are obstacles that prevent Ewing from having the type of close relationship with the owner that Johnson or Thomas has. The Knicks are owned by Madison Square Garden. Madison Square Garden is owned by Paramount Communications. Each group is run by an executive. Paramount is owned by Marvin Davis. MSG is run by Richard Evans.

But the Knicks are run by the MSG Sports Group, whose president is Jack Diller. And although Diller is involved in the most important dealings by the Knicks, he allows Bianchi to run the basketball team.

The corporate structure is not conducive to creating a close player-owner relationship because the person in charge either has to report to someone higher, or defer to someone lower. Perhaps it is that lack of closeness caused by a corporate setup that led to a situation where Ewing said he was “insulted” by the Knicks’ most recent contract offer.

Yet it is the corporate setup that should make Ewing feel confident of getting a lucrative contract. As Bianchi said of Paramount Communications and MSG, “These people are very good business people. They are very bright, and they are aware of Patrick’s value and who he is and what he is. We have all the expertise in the world, plus we have the means to pay him.”

Ewing said he prefers not to talk anymore about his contract status.

“I don’t have a lack of confidence,” Ewing said. “The Knicks have been good to me during my six years here. I said what I felt I had to say about my contract situation, and I’m just going to leave it at that.”

But even though he denies having a lack of confidence in the Knicks, his words indicate otherwise. Not only did he speak out on the contract, but last week during the Knicks’ 3-1 West Coast road trip, he admitted he was frustrated with the Knicks’ inability to compete for a championship.

Ewing, however, has done an excellent job of playing through any disappointment he might feel. Not only does he play hard, but every aspect of his game continues to develop.

Last year he increased his scoring by more than 25 percent from the previous season. He also averaged more than 10 rebounds for the first time in his career. He made the All-NBA first team for the first time.

This season he leads the league in blocked shots with an average of 4.78. He has made a subtle yet significant improvement in court awareness, more actively looking for the open man when he is double-teamed.

But even more significant is that Ewing has asserted himself as the team leader for the first time. In the past, club officials said they wished he would become more of a leader, but that he was more likely to lead by actions than words.

That has changed. This season Ewing constantly has pumped up his teammates and gone out of his way to encourage and motivate them. They have noticed the change.

“He has to make us feel good about ourselves,” guard Trent Tucker said. “When he comes by and says, ‘Good job,’ that gives us that extra confidence that we need. In a basketball game, confidence can waver very easily. You can be very confident in the first half, and in the second half you can lose it. So when your best player is for you and telling you that you can get the job done, that keeps you more confident. He’s a great player, and a team player.”

Ewing obviously has asserted himself in many areas. If he and the organization are willing, there still is room to grow.