Former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing will interview for the Sacramento Kings' head-coaching vacancy this week, Hornets coach Steve Clifford confirmed Sunday.
Ewing has been an assistant for four teams over the past 13 seasons and has spent the past three seasons as an associate head coach for Charlotte, which lost to the Miami Heat 106-73 on Sunday in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.
Clifford said he and Ewing "share a very common philosophy as far as how [coaching] should be done."
"He believes in balance, he believes in work, he believes in defense and he believes in structure,'' Clifford said, adding that Ewing -- despite his lineage as one of the game's all-time great players -- never took a shortcut in his coaching career.
Earlier this month, Ewing expressed interest in interviewing for the Knicks vacancy. He will be among a handful of candidates for the Kings opening. League sources told ESPN's Marc Stein last week that Mark Jackson, Vinny Del Negro and Sam Mitchell were the first three candidates scheduled to interview with Sacramento.
Former Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale and Indiana Pacers assistant coach Nate McMillan are also prime candidates on Sacramento's list. The Kings have been granted permission to interview Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson, The Vertical reported earlier this week.
Others who could receive consideration for the Kings post but have not yet scheduled interviews, according to NBA coaching sources, include former Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, current Miami Heat assistant David Fizdale and former Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown.
The Kings are looking to replace George Karl, who was fired as head coach after leading the Kings to a 33-49 record this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
