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Patrick Ewing describes the brutal 'war' mentality that gripped the NBA after Michael Jordan’s 1993 exit
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- Patrick Ewing describes the brutal 'war' mentality that gripped the NBA after Michael Jordan’s 1993 exit
It's no secret that Patrick Ewing and Michael Jordan go back a long way. The two Hall of Famers shared one of the greatest rivalries, which began at the collegiate level and followed them in the NBA as well. They had the opportunity to face each other quite a bit throughout their NBA careers because they both played in the same Eastern Conference for the most part.
Regardless, whether it was the 1982 NCAA Finals or their five playoff meetings, the results always swung in Jordan's favor. That said, the two shared a mutual respect and developed a friendship off the court as well. As a result, many believed the two remained in constant touch.
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Thus, when Jordan announced his first retirement in 1993, many felt Ewing might have had an inkling of it. During his recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, the New York Knicks veteran was asked about the league's atmosphere during MJ's nearly two-year baseball hiatus.
"He and I were friends, we had the same agent, and no one was saying anything. David Falk wasn't saying anything. Michael wasn't saying anything. So, you know, when you're going into war, you know, all of us, we compare sports to war."
"When you're going into war, we don't think about who we're going against. We just go, okay, who was next? So, if it was Chicago , cause we had to get past Chicago still to get to the finals. So, it didn't make a difference who it was. We just had to get out there and go to war," explained Ewing, who had the perfect opportunity to rise to the top amid Jordan's sabbatical.
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The NBA dynamics during MJ's two-year sabbatical
Hoya Destroya no doubt had the perfect window to cement his legacy with a championship during Jordan's two-year hiatus. Finishing the 1993-94 season as the second seed in the East, the Ewing-led Knicks would meet the Bulls for a seven-game battle in the semi-finals.
Patrick indeed made the most of Mike's absence, leading New York to the 1994 NBA Finals. Going up against the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets , the Knicks fell short in Game 7. But Ewing and Co. had another shot to take care of unfinished business in the 1995 playoffs.
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Unfortunately, that was not the case, as they suffered an embarrassing upset at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in the semi-finals. That series is most remembered for Reggie Miller hitting the choke sign after he dropped 8 points in 9 seconds, stealing Game 1 on the road.
Surprisingly, it was the Rockets who gained the most during Jordan's sabbatical, winning back-to-back championships, with Olajuwon emerging as an unstoppable force at both ends of the court. At the same time, the window for Ewing and others would close the following 1995-96 season, with MJ and the Bulls returning to supremacy.
Coming out of retirement
Though Michael returned towards the end of the 1994-95 season, he did not have enough time to be playoff-ready. As a result, the Bulls would fall to the Orlando Magic in the semi-finals. Coming in rejuvenated, Air Jordan would not only finish the regular season with a 72-10 record but also pave the way for a second three-peat in Chicago.
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The next three years saw the Bulls reign over the league yet again, with MJ leading the show. Simultaneously, tensions within the organization were growing, with late GM Jerry Krause at the center. But Coach Phil Jackson and crew always found a way to win.
The Chicago dynasty would conclude after the 1998 Finals, with Jordan cementing his legacy as an all-time great. Many feel that, had it not been for MJ, many Hall of Famers such as Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton and Shawn Kemp could have finished their careers with a championship.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
