Three names have become synonymous with the NBA landscape for the better part of the last two decades: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
All three defined an era of basketball that changed the complexion of the game as we know it, battling within and against one another for league supremacy.
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And with the trio approaching the end of their careers, the noise of who’s going to take their mantle as the next face of the league increasingly grows louder. Fortunately enough, all three champions are massive fans of the younger generation of today’s NBA.
"We are fans of the guys that are coming up in the ranks and just doing great things,” James said in an exclusive sit-down interview alongside Durant and Curry in ‘NBA OGs: Friends and Rivals.’
"When we decide that we're done, they can keep this beautiful game going." ??
— ESPN (@espn) December 25, 2024
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry on the legacy they want to leave for the next generation of NBA players 👏
"We hope that we have just inspired them to, you know, when we decide that we're done and they can keep this beautiful game going," the NBA's all-time scoring leader added.
From Jayson Tatum to Luka Doncic to Anthony Edwards to Victor Wembanyama, the league never lacked the potential successors to the three elder statesmen who are carrying the torch once passed to them.
In fact, James, Durant and Curry are in awe of the current crop of superstars making a name for themselves.
"We were at the point in our careers where guys that were kids when we were first coming in, now they're grown-ups and you see that full circle and we're still here with them. Ant was 12, 13 years old when he saw me play for the first time," Durant said.
Edwards, who idolized KD growing up, faced the former league MVP last year in the West opening round that resulted in the former’s Timberwolves eliminating the latter’s Suns via sweep.
LeBron, who is currently the league’s longest tenured player playing his 21st season, is already teammates with his eldest son Bronny in the Lakers.
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While the young stars presented a new challenge for them, Curry also admitted that also meant that the end is inevitable.
"Every year it's like new styles and new young energy coming through that challenges you. But then also knowing like we know it's not going to be forever," Curry bared.
While there’s no denying that three’s collective impact on the game inspired a generation, the game is still keeping forward without them.
