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The North Carolina Tar Heels made a hire for head coach today and they chose a New York Knicks teammate of Patrick Ewing, head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas.
Hubert Davis played for Dean Smith, and that’s like shaking Frank Sinatra’s hand. He coached under Roy Williams, who endorsed him. Davis' UNC roots aren't the only reason he got the job, but it’s what he had on his side more than any other candidate.https://t.co/jo8XDwrN46
— Luke DeCock (@LukeDeCock) April 5, 2021
From 1992 until 1996 Ewing and Hubert Davis both played for the Knicks. The Knicks selected Davis with the 20th pick in 1992, while Patrick Ewing was the first pick in the 1985 draft. The 1993-94 Knicks won the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Patrick Ewing really took 7 bench players to finals lol. Them Knicks teams was horrible lol.
— Coach (@vettepassby35) March 21, 2020
Doc rivers
John starks
Charles smith
Charles Oakley
Hubert Davis
Anthony mason
Greg Anthony
No stars
Prior UNC coach and part-time clothing model for traveling evangelical ministers, Roy Williams, was best known for meeting legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson, Jr. once or twice:
“Many years ago I’m sitting between Dean Smith and John Thompson [Jr.] in the front row at a gym,” Williams told The Sports Junkies Thursday. “[Thompson] said, alright you little blankity blank, if the ball starts coming over here toward me and coach Smith, it’s your responsibility to stop it. If a player comes over here diving it’s your responsibility to get in front of us, we get hurt it’s your fault” ...
“So the last couple of years I’ve sort of graduated into that level and I’ll be standing or sitting beside a young coach and I’ll say ‘This is the John Thompson rule. It is your responsibility to stop any ball or any player coming over here and putting us in danger,’” Williams said.
Of course, Dean Smith is known as a good friend of Thompson’s.
Two of the greatest coaches ever John Thompson and Dean Smith none better. pic.twitter.com/ugJP0a7Z5k
— Harry Lyles, Sr. (@HarryLyles) March 20, 2021
From last night: Dean Smith supported John Thompson before being a revolutionary was cool. Wednesday’s game included a fitting tribute from @UNC_Basketball to Thompson. https://t.co/FZO0xe4OEX
— Adam Lucas (@jadamlucas) February 18, 2021
Davis is the first African American to lead UNC’s men’s basketball program.
It seems like just the other day that Hubert Davis was just a guy on ESPN, but apparently his many, many years of experience in the college game will help him over guys who were NBA coaches and were more accomplished in their playing days.
Hiring the revered alum who enjoyed a great NBA career is is the in vogue move. But Juwan Howard, Mike Woodson, Penny Hardaway and Patrick Ewing all lacked college coaching experience.
— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) April 5, 2021
Hubert Davis' nine years of college experience sets him apart from that group.
Maybe Patrick Ewing can offer to mentor Hubert Davis?