NBA

Knicks great Ewing still searching for coaching spot

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The juxtaposition was curious. Of course Patrick Ewing would be the centerpiece of a promotion Madison Square Garden conducted yesterday to unveil an exhibit called “Defining Moments” as part of “Phase II” of the arena’s renovation.

Ewing, after all, was a part of some of the greatest — and most defining — moments ever to go down at the Garden.

So there he was, paraded into a fancy tent inside Madison Square Park yesterday along with more than a dozen memorable athletes and entertainers associated with the World’s Most Famous Arena to promote the product.

The irony is that the Garden is a product Ewing is no longer a part of despite the fact that he craves to be back — this time in a coaching capacity.

Not only is Ewing no longer a part of the Garden and the Knicks, he is a man without a team or a job.

Ewing served as an NBA assistant coach for the past 10 years, with aspirations to become a head coach, but was fired along with the rest of Stan Van Gundy’s Magic staff last season.

Despite the smiles yesterday that came with the memories and the adulation, this does not sit well with the big man.

“I’m just home, hanging out,” Ewing said. “I do have coaching [aspirations], but all the jobs are taken up right now. So I’m just hanging out, relaxing and taking some time off and will try to come back next year.”

Time is not exactly on Ewing’s side — especially at age 49 and out of the game at the moment. The closest the Knicks came to throwing him a lifeline came when they offered him a coaching job with their D-League team, something Ewing wanted no part of, seeing that as closer to Siberia than making the jump from NBA assistant to head coach.

“I didn’t want to coach D-League,” Ewing said, leaving it at that because nothing more needed to be said.

“I’ve had a few interviews, but they just didn’t pan out,” he said — one in Detroit and one in Charlotte, where he was an assistant for five years.

Ewing said he has the goods to be a successful NBA head coach.

“I can relate to a lot of the guys and the things they’re going through,” he said. “I’m a great leader who can bring them together. I can teach them the game. Just because I was a center doesn’t mean I can’t teach a point guard how to be a point guard. They’re going to respect what I bring to the table.”

Now, if only Ewing could get a little respect.

He seemed to enjoy recounting his part in the Garden’s “Defining Moments” series yesterday. His put-back basket to beat the Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on June 5, 1994, was one of the top 10 moments unveiled.

In “Phase II” of his career, Ewing would like to advance his legacy — whether it’s at the Garden with the Knicks or with another NBA team. Until then, he waits.

“It just hasn’t come,” Ewing said. “I can’t worry about it. I just keep on getting better, keep on learning and make sure that when that day comes that I’m ready.”

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com