This season witnessed a peculiar phenomenon. Yesterday, LeBron James’ Lakers, led by him, narrowly lost to the Nuggets by 106-108 on the road, thus being eliminated with a total score of 1-4. Meanwhile, on the other side, Kevin Durant’s Suns were swept 0-4 by the Timberwolves, and Curry’s Warriors didn’t even make it to the playoffs. Each of the three major superstars faced disappointing outcomes. What exactly happened to them?
LeBron’s Lakers lost to the Nuggets by a margin of 2 points, with Jamal Murray once again delivering a clutch performance, leading to a 1-4 series defeat. Data shows that the Lakers did have leads throughout this series, quite substantial ones at times. In the first three games, they led the Nuggets by a total of 35 points at halftime. Particularly in Game 2, despite leading by as much as 20 points, they still fell victim to Murray’s heroics. Although the Lakers managed to win Game 4, halting their 11-game losing streak against the Nuggets, they stumbled again yesterday.
The team led by LeBron has encountered various obstacles over the years, from the Spurs and Celtics in his earlier years to the Warriors in his prime, and now facing the Nuggets in his later years. The Nuggets, who ended the Lakers’ 11-game winning streak against them, seem to be a team that LeBron can occasionally win against but cannot entirely overcome.
Similarly, the Suns, despite managing to win one game, suffered a 0-4 sweep by the Timberwolves. After securing the sixth seed in the final moments of the regular season, they faced the Timberwolves in the first round, a team they had defeated three times during the regular season. However, the Timberwolves transformed into a different team in the playoffs, relentlessly attacking and overwhelming the Suns. With four consecutive losses, criticisms pointed towards the Suns’ lack of a point guard and the erratic performance of their big three, issues that couldn’t be resolved in a short span.
Durant averaged 26.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, shooting 55.2% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range, numbers almost identical to his regular-season performance. Throughout the games, cameras frequently panned to the Suns’ general manager, James Jones, and owner, Robert Sarver. With the Suns boasting the league’s highest payroll this summer, questions arise: will they disband? Where will stars like Durant and Booker, who still hold considerable trade value, end up? Everything remains uncertain.
Finally, there’s Curry’s Warriors. While the Lakers and Suns at least showcased their presence in the playoffs, albeit briefly, the Warriors failed to even qualify. They lost their play-in game against the Kings, marking the abrupt end of their season. This summer, facing uncertainties with Klay Thompson’s contract extension, along with the unclear future of players like Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, the Warriors confront the possibility of disintegration. The team’s management is in a tough spot; relying solely on the current roster won’t suffice, yet they struggle to determine the right course of action, burdened with numerous negative assets. Is the talk of winning championships centered around Curry merely wishful thinking?
In contrast, the playoffs currently feature predominantly young and mid-career stars such as Jokic, Murray, Edwards, Alexander, Doncic, Tatum, and Barrett. Their burgeoning talent seemingly asserts a new order in the league, one that the older generation struggles to resist. This rapid turnover in the league exceeds everyone’s expectations, signaling a trend towards group dominance.
Amidst this landscape emerges a proposition: uniting LeBron, Durant, and Curry in one team to challenge the rising tide of the new generation. This idea offers a refreshing perspective. While LeBron, Durant, and Curry coming together as teammates might be a spectacle reserved for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris or perhaps only witnessed during the Western Conference All-Star game, the possibility of seeing it in a regular NBA season is intriguing. However, the feasibility of this plan raises questions, including which team would be fortunate enough to accommodate these three superstars. Furthermore, if this trio fails to win a championship together, what would the repercussions be?
LeBron, Durant, and Curry, the trio who have collectively dominated the league for the past 12 years, are nearing the end of their illustrious careers. LeBron, the eldest at 39, followed by Durant (35), and Curry (36), are now considered veteran players. As fans, all we can do is watch and cherish their remaining time on the court. Will these three superstars come together to form a superteam this summer?