CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Patrick Ewing said he was never “nervous as a player. But he sure was Friday night before making his NBA head-coaching debut versus the Knicks in Charlotte under the most trying of circumstances and strongest of ironies.
Bobcats rookie coach Steve Clifford was hospitalized Thursday night and the Bobcats revealed he suffered “chest pains’’ and needed a heart procedure Friday that included two stents. Ewing is the associate coach and will lead the Bobcats until further notice.
It was hardly a dreamy debut as the desperate Knicks took out the Bobcats, 101-91, at Times Warner Cable Arena. Ewing received a nice ovation during pregame introductions but mostly from the large Knicks contingent on hand. Ewing sat most of the game — as opposed to coach Mike Woodson, who was almost always out of his seat.
“It’s a lot different,’’ Ewing said afterward. “When I’m assisting, I’m just sitting there giving advice and talking to the head man. Tonight I was the head man and giving all the other coaches were giving me advice. It was nervous at first but once the game started, I was able to calm down and do my thing.’’
The whole day could not have been more surreal for the Knicks legend. He heard from his former coach Jeff Van Gundy and Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.
“It’s ironic that I play 15 years in New York and my first opportunity to be a head coach is against the Knicks,’’ Ewing said during his first pregame press conference as a coach. I am nervous. I talked to a few of my friends. Jeff Van Gundy is one of them. When I played I was never nervous before a game. But as a coach, the butterflies are flowing.’’
“[Jeff] was like, look just take your time, take a deep breath and relax and you’ll be fine,’’ Ewing said.
Jordan had a different message. “[Jordan] called me he said if I don’t win, I’m fired,’’ Ewing said.
According to Ewing, Clifford might be released from the hospital Sunday but doesn’t know when he will take back the coaching reigns after the former Knicks assistant suffered an apparent heart attack.
Ewing talked to him 90 minutes before tip-off. “He said go out and have fun,’’ Ewing added.
“It is strange,’’ Ewing said before Clifford’s diagnosis was official. “Especially against seeing all you guys here [the Knicks]. I can see the writing on the wall right now.’’
“I have to curse Cliff out for my first game being against you guys [the Knicks],’’ Ewing said jokingly.
Ewing said he never has coached other than the Las Vegas summer league because he was never the top assistant before this season. Ewing has long aspired to be an NBA head coach and never even got an interview this summer when 13 changes were made.
Ewing could be on audition. Knicks president Steve Mills was on hand. Ewing’s frosty relationship with the Knicks lessened last season when he was the temporary postgame broadcaster for MSG Network.
But he has never even been offered an assistant-coaching job with the Knicks.
“I don’t worry about that now,’’ Ewing said. “I’m just worried about getting my team focused. A lot of guys don’t even know Cliff’s not coaching tonight. I’m happy with the Knicks. I’m happy with the Dolans.’’