Patrick Ewing, NBA legend, tests positive for COVID-19

Patrick Ewing, American basketball legend and coach, says he is self-isolating in hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

The 57-year-old former basketball player, who became a New York Nicks great during his 16 years with the NBA franchise, took to his Twitter page to announce his health status in the early hours of Saturday.

“I want to share that I have tested positive for Covid-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones,” the Jamaican-American tweeted.

I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. pic.twitter.com/a2fMuhIZyG

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— Patrick Ewing (@CoachEwing33) May 22, 2020

The tweet came with a statement from Georgetown University, where he is the head coach of the men’s basketball team, which also confirmed his diagnosis.

“Georgetown University’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach Patrick Erwing has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Erwing has elected to share his diagnosis publicly to emphasize that this virus can affect anyone,” the statement read.

Erwing, who also played for the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic before retiring, further thanked frontline and healthcare workers.

“This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly,” he said. “I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Now more than ever, I want to thank the healthcare workers and everyone on the front lines. I’ll be fine and we will all get through this.”

The varsity also revealed that their coach is under isolation at a local hospital, adding that he is the only person on the school’s basketball roster to have tested positive for the virus.

“Erwing is under care and isolation at a local hospital. He is the only member of the Georgetown men’s basketball program to have tested positive for the virus,” the statement concluded.

Erwing, who played over 1,000 games for the Knicks, is an 11-time NBA All-Star player. The 7-feet tall two-time Olympic gold medalist was part of the USA Dream Team of Barcelona 1992 Olympics.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ewing is among the most notable current and former athletes to contract COVID-19, a disease that has affected over one million Americans.