Patrick Ewing

John Thompson's Georgetown program produced two of the most feared defensive centers of their era, back to back. In the first of what would become four consecutive playoff collisions, Ewing's Knicks met Mourning's Heat in the 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals. At Miami Arena on May 7, the elder drove into the paint and threw it down over his Georgetown successor to ice Game 1. The dunk punctuated a commanding 39-minute effort that closed with 24 points, 16 rebounds, one steal and five blocks in New York's 88-79 victory. The Hall of Famer and 11-time All-Star's number 33 is retired by the Knicks.