Why did New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing have to testify in trial involving strip club: "I got aroused, they performed oral sex"
Patrick Ewing was one of the best NBA players in the 1980s and 90s. He spent the majority of his career playing for the New York Knicks and was dominant on both ends of the floor. Unfortunately, Ewing also dealt with some controversy.
NBA players love to party and the Knicks center was no exception. However, his partying habits got him into trouble as he had to testify in a trial that involved a strip club.
The basketball legend shared some interesting details and admitted that he received sexual favors from strippers in Atlanta. This article will reveal everything you need to know about it.
Patrick Ewing's testimony in a strip club trial
The basketball superstar had to testify in the Gold Club racketeering trial in July 2001. His testimony took place after his first season with the Seattle SuperSonics and just a year before his retirement.
Ewing revealed that he received sexual favors from performers in the club's VIP room. Considering that the owner of the strip club, Steve Kaplan, was accused of providing prostitutes for athletes and celebrities, this was a big deal.
"The girls danced, then they started fondling me," Ewing said in his testimony. "I got aroused, they performed oral sex, then they hung around a little and then left."
The basketball player also revealed that several others were present in the VIP room, including the club owner. Additionally, Ewing said that he was not the only player from the New York Knicks who frequently visited the club.
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In the testimony, which took less than half an hour, the center said that he'd visited the club 10 to 12 times. On two different occasions, he received oral sex from performers.
Club owner was sentenced to prison
Patrick Ewing claimed that he visited the strip club for entertainment, not for sex. He also revealed that he paid $20 for the dance and that he'd usually leave a tip. However, he never had to pay to use the private room, which usually costs hundreds of dollars.
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At one point, Steve Kaplan told the basketball star that he could bring the girls to his hotel room as well. However, the 11-time All-Star rejected this.
A month later, Kaplan pleaded guilty to racketeering involving credit card fraud and prostitution. Due to this, he lost ownership of the strip club. He also had to pay $5 million in fines, including $300,000 in restitution to fraud victims.
Kaplan was sentenced to 16 months in prison in January 2002. Additionally, he had to perform 400 hours of community service.