Icons at the End of the Road

Ewing's 15-year career in New York ended with his request for a change of scenery, and without a constantly-anticipated championship, after the Knicks fell to Indiana in the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals. Sent to Seattle in a four-team trade that fetched Glen Rice, Luc Longley, Travis Knight, Vladimir Stepania, Lazaro Borrell, Vernon Maxwell, and four picks, Ewing , 36, did not justify the expectation that inspired the Sonics' Gary Payton to say, "I think Patrick's going to come and add us something that we needed" -- unless the Sonics needed Ewing's career-low 9.6 points per game. He played out the string with Orlando and retired on Sept. 18, 2002.