AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
A new era has officially dawned in the NBA.
For the first time in 20 years, the second round of the NBA playoffs will commence without LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant on the floor.
Bleacher Report@BleacherReport
LEBRON, STEPH, OR KD WON’T PLAY IN 2ND-ROUND FOR FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS 😳 <a href=”https://t.co/lYNl5rgjWI”>pic.twitter.com/lYNl5rgjWI</a>
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Curry’s Golden State Warriors failed to reach the playoffs after losing to the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament, while Durant’s Phoenix Suns (Minnesota Timberwolves) and James’ Los Angeles Lakers (Denver Nuggets) were eliminated in the first round. The Suns and Lakers combined for just one win.
The changing of the guard has been a long time coming, even if the trio of future Hall of Famers held it off longer than anyone expected. James pushed the Lakers to an unexpected conference finals run a year ago while Curry and Durant sat home. Curry’s Warriors won the championship in 2022 while James and Durant combined for zero postseason wins.
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Taking their place is an Oklahoma City Thunder team led by 25-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a Timberwolves squad led by 22-year-old Anthony Edwards and a Nuggets team led by 29-year-old Nikola Jokić, who is the elder statesman of the group but has replaced James as the unquestioned best player in basketball.
The Eastern Conference favorite Boston Celtics have a 26-year-old superstar in Jayson Tatum, while 27-year-old Jalen Brunson has the New York Knicks playing their best basketball in decades.
While James, Curry and Durant remain in defiance of Father Time as their individual numbers remain brilliant, it’s clear they’re no longer dominant enough to prop up teams by themselves. The All-Star trio that defined a generation has put up a fight, but the pendulum is starting to swing in time’s favor.
