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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2002
ORLANDO -- Patrick Ewing and the Magic are parting ways after one season.
The 40-year-old center and Orlando agreed he will not return next season, general manager John Gabriel said Thursday. There was one year left on Ewing's contract, worth a little more than $2-million.
Ewing, an 11-time All-Star, has not decided to retire from the NBA, the Magic said.
In 17 seasons, Ewing averaged 21 points and 9.8 rebounds for New York, Seattle and Orlando. In 1997, he was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.
Ewing's brief stay in Orlando was his least productive. He averaged 6 points, 4 rebounds and 13.9 minutes, all career lows.
After the All-Star break, he played barely 10 minutes each game and for the first time was listed as a Did Not Play-Coach's Decision.
"In my eyes, Patrick Ewing is a champion, a legend, one of the all-time greats," coach Doc Rivers said. "His work ethic throughout his career has been unmatched. He has a warrior mentality and is always so intense and so focused."
HEAT: Undrafted forward Luke Recker signed and will attend training camp in October. He averaged 10 points in 16 minutes for the Heat's summer-league team, which went 9-0. The 6-foot-6 Recker led Iowa with 17.1 points last season.
JAZZ: Free-agent forward Matt Harpring signed a four-year, $18.5-million deal. Harpring, who played for the 76ers last season, is expected to earn $4-million next season, eroding most of Utah's $4.5-million midlevel salary exception.
KINGS: Guard Mike Bibby agreed to a new contract, the Associated Press reported.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Dallas' Steve Nash withdrew from the Canadian national team, saying he was not mentally or physically ready to compete. His departure leaves the team without any of the three NBA players it had expected to play in Indianapolis on Aug. 29-Sept. 8. Centers Todd MacCulloch and Jamaal Magliore did not join, in part because of insurance issues related to pre-existing injuries.
Also, three players on Lebanon's national team could miss the championships because of delays in obtaining U.S. visas. But the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Vincent Battle, said he hoped visa delays would be overcome in the next 24 hours.
AWARDS: A panel of sports writers and broadcasters named Washington coach Marianne Stanley coach of the year and Mystics guard Coco Miller most improved player. Stanley guided the Mystics to their first winning record (17-15) and a playoff berth. Miller, in her second season, averaged 9.3 points to 1.7 last season.
Indiana said Tamika Catchings, the only player to lead her team in points (18.6), rebounds (8.6) and assists (3.7) this season, will be named rookie of the year.
WASHINGTON 74, CHARLOTTE 62: Chamique Holdsclaw had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 steals to lead host the Mystics to their first playoff win in franchise history in Game 1 of the East semis.
L.A. 78, SEATTLE 61: Lisa Leslie scored 24, including the first 13 of the second half, to lift the visiting Sparks in Game 1 of the West semis. Lauren Jackson led Seattle with 19 and Sue Bird added 11 and eight assists.