SALT LAKE CITY -- You hope this is not how the era ends. You hope they get another chance to play together wearing the uniform of the Utah Jazz. You hope you get a chance to hear the announcer say "Stockton to Malone" just one more time.

	Malone

	Stockton

But as John Stockton and Karl Malone left the court of the Delta Center on Monday night after a 91-86 defeat against the Sacramento Kings that eliminated the Jazz from the playoffs, there was a sense that the special bond the two shared for the last 17 years has come to an end.

While the 40-year-old Stockton still has another year on his contract, he hasn't made a commitment to playing next season. Malone, with another year left on his contract, has made it clear he doesn't want to be a part of a major rebuilding process. So with the speculation that Stockton might call it quits, and/or Malone might be traded to a team with a chance of winning a title, the Stockton-and-Malone stint with the Jazz might have, indeed, come to an end.

"I don't think that team is ready to pass the torch," said Sacramento coach Rick Adelman, after watching his team win a four-game series that was more difficult than expected. "If I had a couple of guys who played like those two guys play, they'd be around for as long as they wanted to play."

The truth is Stockton and Malone would be around as long as they have a legitimate chance at a championship. But those opportunities faded soon after Michael Jordan's game-winning shot in the Delta Center won the 1998 title.

Playing in the Western Conference that is dominated by big men and young legs, the Jazz getting deep into the postseason is almost mission impossible.

Stockton, while in great physical shape, is no match for the likes of Mike Bibby and Steve Nash. And while he's due $7 million next season, he's one of the few players who would walk away from the game -- and the money -- if his passion for basketball diminished.

Malone will go down as one of the greatest power forwards ever, but a man who used to use his body to dominate is all too often now -- like Monday night -- pushed to the perimeter for shots. When's the last time you saw the Mailman grab just three rebounds (while scoring 14 points) in 41 minutes. A man who used to on some nights be able to get 10 free throws on reputation alone, shot just two free throws Monday -- and missed them both with 1:22 left and his team trailing by six.

That Utah has been eliminated in the first round the second consecutive season has less to do with Malone and Stockton getting old, and more to do with that they no longer have reliable teammates who can get the job done.

Byron Russell, after 10 years in the league, hit two of 12 shots against the Kings in Game 4 and barely resembled the guy who battled MJ during Utah's two runs to the NBA Finals.

Greg Ostertag played one of his best games in recent memory (or anybody's memory) Monday with eight points and 15 rebounds, but remains an inconsistent performer.

One day Andrei Kirilenko and Jarron Collins will develop and have nice, long careers. Both started Monday but are still too raw to be consistent players.

When Rusty LaRue takes two 3-pointers at the end of Game 3, that's a sign that this team is in need of transition. That Malone can no longer school the likes of Chris Webber is a sign that, next season, he needs to be on a team where maybe he's a third or fourth option.

There was no fanfare when Utah's season came to a close Monday. There was no confetti dropped, no fireworks shot off, and no public acknowledgement that the Stockton/Malone era was over.

But as the Sacramento players sought out Malone and Stockton on the court after the game, their reasons appeared two-fold -- to offer respect to the two for a series that was tougher than expected, and to honor a partnership that might have come to an end.

"They can win four, five championships after Stockton and Malone leave and they still won't be the true Jazz without them," Webber said. "They are the ultimate warriors, the ultimate competitors. And we have to give them our ultimate respect."

Jerry Bembry is the NBA General Editor for ESPN The Magazine.