Patrick Ewing Expected to Join Washington Wizards 2026-27 Staff

The Washington Wizards have yet to announce a finalized coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, but general manager Will Dawkins put any lingering questions to rest after confirming Brian Keefe would return for a third season as the team's permanent head coach. Yet could the organization add another to its coaching staff?

Patrick Ewing is expected to return to the Washington Wizards for a second stint as an assistant coach, Shams Charania reported on Saturday. Ian Begley of SNY reported on Saturday that Hall of Fame center and former New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing is "in talks to join the club's coaching staff," while Ewing spent the last two seasons as an advisor within the Knicks' organization. 

Ewing spent the first 15 season of his NBA career with the Knicks where he materialized into one of the league's best before spending one season with the Seattle Supersonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder, then Orlando Magic before transitioning to coaching.

The rationale for the 7-footer to return to the DMV is clear given the former top overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft shined at Georgetown for four seasons. Ewing also began his NBA coaching career in Washington where he served as an assistant under Doug Collins in 2002-03 before moving on to the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets over the next 15 seasons.

Ewing also spent six seasons as the head coach at Georgetown, though that was far from a successful stint after finishing 75-109 overall including 28-81 in conference play. His tenure received a second life after the Hoyas won the Big East Conference Tournament in 2020-21 to clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament, what proved to be their lone season of postseason basketball under Ewing.

The hire could materialize into a notable development for an organization that has upgraded its frontcourt over the last six months. After acquiring Anthony Davis via trade, the Wizards acquired Felix Okpara in the second round of the draft, traded for Deandre Ayton in free agency all while re-signing Tristan Vukcevic to a new deal in late February. Fresh off a productive end to his rookie season after joining the Wizards toward the end of 2025-26, Julian Reese also returns and joins Jamir Watkins on a two-way deal, giving the Wizards an upgraded rotation heading into 2026-27.

The Wizards are also expected to promote Cody Toppert to a bench role on Keefe's staff after previously serving as the head coach of the Capital City Go-Go, the team's G League affiliate. News also emerged last week that former Nicholls State head coach Tevon Saddler is expected to fill Toppert's role and join the organization as the new head coach of the Go-Go, though that has yet to be formally announced.

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