Some might call it the end of an era.
LeBron James, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and Warriors star Stephen Stephen after the Los Angeles Lakers lost 108-106 to the Denver Nuggets and were subsequently eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs at Ball Arena on Monday night. -An incredible winning streak involving Curry was born. end.
For the first time since 2005, the second round of the postseason will not feature James, Durant and Curry, the three greatest players to ever play in the game (h/t Statmuse).
James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft, but the “Chosen One” did not make the playoffs until his third year in the league. Since 2005, James has appeared in the postseason 17 times during stints with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers and has four championship rings to his credit.
James has missed the playoffs just four times in his career (2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2018-19 and 2021-22), and he didn't make it past the first round this season. It was the second time.
Durant wasn't drafted until 2007 and missed the playoffs in his first two seasons with the team. However, since his first postseason appearance in the 2009-10 season, Durant has made the playoffs every year except for the 2014-15 season, making a total of 14 postseason appearances, but in the opening game of the Brooklyn Nets, -They didn't pay the price for losing to the Nets. 2020 Toronto Raptors.
Durant has advanced to the second round at least 10 times, but the Suns lost their opening series sweep to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Curry, who won two of the Warriors' four rings with Durant, has made the playoffs nine times since being drafted by Golden State in 2009, reaching the second round at least eight times. The Splash Brothers missed the postseason in their first three seasons, 2019-20, 2020-21, and again this season when the Warriors lost to the Sacramento Kings and didn't make it past the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Since the 2010s, James, Curry and Durant have dominated on the court. However, with young stars like Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander making a name for themselves, the NBA postseason could be very different going forward.
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