Patrick Ewing Almost Got Sent Home From 1984 Olympics Over Shenanigans With Michael Jordan

The 1992 Dream Team is still widely recognized as the best Olympic basketball team to ever be assembled. Featuring the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird all on the same team, there wasn’t a single weak link in the chain. 

But the 1984 team does not get the same level of recognition, despite bringing home the Gold. It featured a fresh out-of-the-gate Jordan and the biggest collegiate star of the time, Patrick Ewing. But the future Knicks legend almost got sent home days before the games even started.

‘Big Pat’ was one of those stars in the league who gave it his all on the court but was never able to win a championship, courtesy of ‘His Airness’ and the Chicago Bulls. However, he did get to share the court with Jordan, that too in the Olympics before either of them had made their NBA debut.

Recalling the opening ceremony of the 1984 Olympics where Patrick Ewing marched in with Team USA, New York Basketball’s official X account posted a glimpse of the event for fans to cherish. 

40 years ago today Patrick Ewing marched in the opening ceremony of the 1984 Olympics

Days before he almost got sent home

For getting hurt wrestling his roommate

Michael Jordan

Instead the two 21-year-olds led the US men to their last amateur gold ever pic.twitter.com/lYGk5Jcv1Y

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 28, 2024

Apart from sharing the court, Ewing and ‘Air Jordan’ also shared a room during their stay in Los Angeles. And due to his shenanigans with Michael Jordan, the team’s head coach, Bob Knight was ready to send him home.

An article from The Athletic described what went down between Ewing and MJ for Knight to even consider such a drastic measure. The team’s assistant head coach, C.M. Newton informed Digger Phelps, who was traveling with the team, of Knight’s decision.

“Knight wants to send Ewing home. He and Jordan are roommates. They were wrestling in their room and Ewing has a twisted neck.”

Given that the 1984 team had Jon Koncak as the only other center, sending Ewing back would have been risky. Eventually, Knight changed his mind about sending Ewing home. He amply repaid the coach’s confidence in him by putting on a show for the nation along with his roommate. Ewing had the defensive end on lock, whereas the future Chicago Bulls icon took care of the team’s offense. Having other big names like Chris Mullin on the team only bolstered the roster further.

‘Big Pat’ and Jordan became the last two non-professionals (Ewing was still in college and MJ was in his rookie season) to lead Team USA to a gold medal in the Olympics. And the rest is history.