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Frank Isola of the New York Daily News on Patrick Ewing's dream of being a head coach in the NBA:

Ewing, 45, is in his first season as an assistant with the Orlando Magic after previous stints with Washington and Houston. He has built an impressive resume, and his goal is to become a head coach. There may even be an opening in New York in the not-so-distant future.

"That's definitely something I want, but am I ready? You won't know until you get the offer," Ewing said yesterday of becoming a head coach. "I think I've put in my years. This is my fifth year as an assistant coach. With all of my experience as a player, I think that says something. Am I going to be Jeff Van Gundy or Pat Riley? Who knows?"

Respected trainer/analyst David Thorpe, during an ESPN chat last week upon being asked whether Ewing deserves more credit for his work with Yao Ming and Dwight Howard:

When I go to Magic games, I get there 3 hours early to watch the players prepare. I see all the Magic assistants putting players through their paces, save one. Guess which guy sits on the first row chairs and talks to the dancers?

The perfect successor to Isiah Thomas, methinks. (And yes, that is officially the greatest coaching staff photo of all time. A little more 'stache and it'd be 'framed poster' worthy.)