Shortly before the Knicks picked fourth in 2015 — their highest selection since they won the first NBA lottery — the grand prize from the 1985 draft, Patrick Ewing, was asked about playing in New York.
“Whoever they get,” Ewing said, “tell him he better have a thick skin. A really thick skin.”
No one would know that better than Ewing who left gallons of blood, sweat and tears on the Garden floor every night and still heard boos. That 2015 pick was Kristaps Porzingis, whose selection was met with boos. Fast forward to Thursday at Barclays Center.