Basketball is the second most popular sport in America. The NBA (National Basketball Association) was established in 1946. 30 teams comprise the league. Such teams include: Chicago Bulls; Los Angeles (LA) Lakers; Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks. With these teams come famous players. These includes: Michael Jordan; Shaquielle O'Neal; LeBron James; Stephen Curry; Kevin Durant and the late, great, Kobe Bryant.
For many a year, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have ruled the sport. They have represented the LA Lakers; Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, respectively. Their dominance is so big that the trio have come under an umbrella term - 'The Lebron Era.' It seemed like it would last for as long as the trio continued to play.
However, as this season has progressed, things have changed. None of the teams progressed to the second round of the post-season. This can symbolise that there's a need for a new era of players - a passing of the torch of sorts. This is the first time in two decades that none of the three players will reach this stage.
LeBron James is edging towards turning 40. Despite putting in impressive numbers for this season, the calls for his retirement are becoming more audible. His impact was less than usual in this season. He once reigned as king in the playoffs. Father Time hasn't quite come knocking on LeBron's door.
The LA Lakers' 12 consecutive losses to the Denver Nuggets before Game 4 win and then shocking loss in Game 5 on Monday night; coupled with back-to-back post-season exits, highlight a stark reality: LeBron James, once an unstoppable force in the post-season, now faces formidable challenges in remaining dominant in the playoffs. After all, the proof has been there since he led the Lakers to the championship in the bubble in 2019-20.
James exited the first round against the Phoenix Suns in the 2020-21 season, missed the playoffs in 2021-22 and lost in the Western Conference Finals in a sweep to the Denver Nuggets last year. As he has aged, LeBron James has needed more help from his teammates but that hasn't simply been there. LeBron simply can’t carry teams to the Finals anymore due to, at the end of the day, he is human and it's expect that he will show a steep decline at some point next season.
Kevin Durant's name in the Hall of Fame is locked in. He has four scoring records to his name. His performances weren't the same prior to leaving the Warriors in 2019. This season, the Suns failed in reaching the playoffs. They got wiped off the floor by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Obviously, the fans and management weren't thrilled with the performances. There are stories that the man himself wasn't happy with the role he was playing.
Since leaving the Warriors, Durant's playoff record has been poor. In the 2019-20 season, he missed the entire season with injury. Durant lost in the second round to the eventual champions, Milwaukee Bucks, in the second round of the 2020-21 season. They were swept in the first round in the 2021-22 season and lost in six games to the eventual champions the Denver Nuggets in the second round last year. Durant has not made a Conference Finals since leaving the Warriors and his days of being an elite post-season competitor could be coming to an official end.
Despite putting in impressive numbers, questions have been raised regarding his managerial skills in leadership roles. At over 36 years of age, the toll of carrying a franchise on his shoulders may be catching up to him. Doubts continue to linger about his ability to rejuvenate a fading team.
While the era might be coming to an end, what they have achieved shouldn't be ignored. The way and manner in which modern basketball is played today is courtesy of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. They decimated the traditional attacking roles.
Unfortunately, all the teams have caught up with them and hence, they no longer have an advantage. They are simply a part of the crowd nowadays. As the key pieces from that dynastic Warriors run continue to age, it’s becoming abundantly clear that their stranglehold on the league is gone.
At the peak of their power, the Golden State Warriors were one of the greatest dynasties that basketball has ever seen. Many would argue that the 2016-17 Warriors were, in fact, the greatest team to ever play basketball.
Kevin Durant's influence had a big say on the Warriors' two of four championship wins. Durant has tried to build a superteam at every destination. The Brooklyn Nets crashed and burned for a long list of reasons. This involved: Injuries; vaccine statuses and other factors.
In the four-game sweep, the Suns were held to under 110 points in three of the four games. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves had their way offensively. The team scored 120 points or more in three of the four games played.
The most damning case of the NBA transitioning into a new era must be LeBron James and the Lakers’ struggles against the Denver Nuggets. Before the Game 4 win in their series, the Lakers had dropped 11 straight games to the Nuggets. There’s a great deal of irony in the man who was seen as the best player in the NBA for a whole generation being unable to handle the game’s newest king of the mountain in Nikola Jokić.
With Jokić right in the middle of his prime and amidst another potential MVP season, he and the Nuggets feel inevitable as they chase a repeat as NBA Champions. It’s the same air of inevitability that Eastern Conference teams faced when LeBron James made eight consecutive finals appearances. The same feeling that teams like the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics faced going up against James has now been turned around on LeBron’s Lakers in their attempt to get past the Nuggets.
The writing on the wall is so clear that basketball network, "Overtime" has made a tribute video for the trio. Pundits are also pointing to the fact. They are also pointing out that the trio were trumped by youngsters. It's important that the torch be passed on. The torch will be passed to players such as Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous Alexander & Nikola Jokić.
I think it's quite clear that the era is indeed dead in the water. The three have played their part in the future development of the game. However, as the old saying goes, "All good things come to an end." All three need to come to this realisation and step aside for the next generation. They can't hog the spotlight forever. LeBron James' son, Bronny, has entered the 2024 draft. A father-son duo can take place for a singular season but then he can help his son make sure that he comfortably fills his father's shoes without succumbing to the pressure.
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Source Material
Bitar, E. 2024. End Of An Era Of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, And Stephen Curry. Fadeaway World.
Kher, T. 2024. “End Of An Era”: Kevin Garnett Acknowledges LeBron James, Kevin Durant, And Stephen Curry’s Time As Title Contenders Might Be Over. The Sports Rush.
Rovenchuk, S. 2024. NBA Playoffs Have Shown How The League Is Transitioning To A New Era. GIVEMESPORT.