The NBA Playoffs\u2019 Conference Semifinals will commence on Friday but a few familiar faces won\u2019t feature.\u00a0Stephen Curry,\u00a0LeBron James,\u00a0Kevin Durant, and their respective teams were eliminated before the second round this season, making this the first playoffs since 2005 where none of the three made it past the first hurdle.<\/p>\n
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Curry, James, and Durant have been the league\u2019s faces for a decade and a half, but the trio is in their late 30s and it\u2019s seemingly time for a change. Hall of Famer\u00a0Tracy McGrady\u00a0is also sensing the shift in the NBA\u2019s hierarchy, and made a bold claim on the League\u2019s Big 3.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe era for KD (Kevin Durant), Steph (Curry), and (LeBron James) is over for winning championships. It\u2019s a new day man. Look who\u2019s in the playoffs and look who\u2019s leading the charge right now. Ant-man just swept KD, Bron was on the verge of getting swapped by Joker and Jamal Murray and the Nuggets. Steph is already on vacation\u2026 These young players have surpassed in terms of winning.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
McGrady also named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic as players who could potentially replace Curry, James, and Durant as the faces of the NBA. While the Hall of Famer may be jumping the gun in writing off the veteran trio as they\u2019re still posting impressive numbers and playing at a high level, the younger players that he named are certainly more likely to win individual accolades and lead their team to deep playoff runs over the coming years.<\/p>\n
Father Time is undefeated. Curry, James, and Durant have done exceptionally well to stave it off, but it will eventually catch up to them. They\u2019ve had an incredible and unforgettable run at the top, but it seems as if their race has been run.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next for Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James?<\/h2>\n
The veteran trio finds themselves in the unfamiliar position of being eliminated from the playoffs before the second round. But they won\u2019t be sitting idle until the 2024-25 season. All three will be part of the incredible Team USA roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which commences in July.<\/p>\n
As far as their NBA futures are concerned, none of the three will likely be on the move. The Phoenix Suns will look to retool their failed super team and hope Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal can find enough synergy to end the franchise\u2019s championship duck next season.<\/p>\n
\nGreatness Unites.<\/p>\n
The 2024 USA Men's National Team is here.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 #USABMNT<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/I2jOLsrcQv<\/a><\/p>\n
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) April 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n