LeBron, Steph, and Durant: Still Elite, but Time Is Running Out

As the 2024 NBA season kicks off, basketball legends LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant still find themselves ranked among the league’s top 10 players. However, the days of their dominance are fading, with younger stars closing in and time inevitably catching up to these aging giants of the game.

For over a decade, LeBron, Steph, and Durant have reigned supreme, collecting championships, MVPs, and defining the modern NBA era. But this season, none of them cracked the top five in player rankings for the first time in years. Curry dropped to sixth, Durant slipped to ninth, and LeBron sits in eighth after an impressive 71-game season.

Their talent remains undeniable, as each delivered standout performances in both the NBA and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Curry dazzled with clutch 3-pointers, LeBron claimed MVP honors, and Durant made a massive impact with Team USA. But despite their brilliance, the reality of age is becoming harder to ignore.

Curry, 36, and Durant, also 36, still show flashes of their greatness, while LeBron, now 40, continues his battle against Father Time. However, last season hinted at a changing of the guard, as for the first time since 2005, none of the trio advanced past the first round of the NBA playoffs. LeBron’s Lakers and Durant’s Suns were both eliminated early, while Curry’s Warriors missed the playoffs altogether.

The future of the league is clear, with rising stars like Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, and Ja Morant poised to take the spotlight. Wembanyama, in particular, is already knocking on the door, and it’s only a matter of time before he claims a top-five ranking. Other emerging talents like Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker are also on the rise, signaling a new era in the NBA.

LeBron, Steph, and Durant may still be top-10 talents this season, but the writing is on the wall. As their time at the top winds down, fans should appreciate these legends while they can, because the future is coming fast, and it’s bringing a new generation of stars.