Although they no longer dominate the NBA like before, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant They symbolize once again the hegemony of American basketball, increasingly threatened by the emergence of foreign stars.
‘King James’, ‘Chef Curry’ and ‘Durantula’, who have 52 active seasons, 10 rings and seven MVP awards, start the new season on Tuesday rejuvenated after enjoying as teammates the unappealable American triumph at the Paris Olympic Games.
The gold medal was an injection of encouragement before a season in which neither the Los Angeles Lakers of LeBron (39 years old), nor the Golden State Warriors of Curry (36) and the Phoenix Suns of Durant (36) have high expectations of fight for the title.
In addition to expanding their legendary legacies, the trio also aspires to continue inspiring young people and at some point pass the baton to one of their compatriots.
Forward Jayson Tatum, leader of the champions Boston Celtics, and guard Anthony Edwards, leader of the Minnesota Timberwolves at 23, emerge as the most suitable for the relief.
However, none of them have come close to the level of MVP (Most Valuable Player), nor have other players who raised gigantic expectations, such as Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Devin Booker (Suns), Zion Williamson (Pelicans) or Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers).
Since James Harden won it in 2018, the award has fallen into the hands of three players born outside the United States: three times to the Serbian Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), twice to the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and once to the Cameroonian Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers).
Also in that conversation are the Slovenian Luka Doncic, leader of the runners-up Dallas Mavericks and top scorer last season, and the Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), both finalists for the last MVP along with Jokic.
And behind him looms the shadow of Frenchman Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), the 2.24m tall center considered the greatest potential talent since LeBron James.
After ‘Wemby’, number one in the 2023 Draft, his compatriots Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) and Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards) took first and second place in this year’s election.
The globalization of the NBA is also expressed in general figures, since last season 125 of the 450 players came from 40 countries other than the United States.
No retirement in sight
Some American analysts are already placing their main hopes on Cooper Flagg, a 17-year-old pearl still at Duke University who was noticed among the sparring partners of the American team that competed in Paris.
LeBron, chosen MVP of the Olympic tournament, Curry and Durant did not let go of the reins of ‘Team USA’ and were its top scorers.
Back home, the trio looks for new motivations for races that have no expiration date.
James, who has just renewed for two more seasons with the Lakers, will break Vince Carter’s record of 22 seasons in the NBA on Tuesday. That same day he could write another page of history and, together with his first-born son Bronny, form the first father and son pair to play together in the league.
Curry, who saw his great partner Klay Thompson leave, signed an extension of his astronomical contract with the Warriors until 2027.
Durant, for his part, has a commitment to the Suns until 2026 and at the end of the season he will have the option to extend it until 2028.
Of the three, Durant is the only one who can have any hope of going far in the playoffs, as long as the injuries respect the ‘Big 3’ he forms with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.