Finally, the league may be less than a year away from entering the post-Jordan era.

Yao, the Rockets' No. 1 pick, understands that he supports the hopes of both his country and a league searching for new stars in the imminent post-Jordan era.

Among Chinese youth, the favorite player of the post-Jordan era may be the league's prodigal son: Allen Iverson.

The N.B.A. says attendance is up by 2.31 percent in this post-Jordan era.

Carter displayed the unique talent the league is hungry to flaunt in the post-Jordan era.

The team enjoyed their best attendance figures in the post-Jordan era with a season attendance of 753,283 (18,372 per game).

To the Sports Editor: I read comments of Commissioner David Stern that the post-Jordan era was the cause of lack of interest in the playoffs.

To be sure, there are still big bets being made on stars the shoe companies believe will survive and prosper into the post-Jordan era.

As teams in the traditionally strong cities fade, the Nets could join Orlando and Charlotte, among others, as the post-Jordan era takes form.

For years, the Timberwolves were my secret second-favorite team, always chugging along with Kevin Garnett and keeping me sane in the post-Jordan era.