Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only thing that is constant is change.”
The same can be said for the National Basketball Association as the past year in the league has been a roller coaster of record-breaking achievements, saying goodbye to legends of the game, and as unpredictable an offseason as the NBA has seen since LeBron James made his “decision” bolting from Cleveland for Miami in 2010.
The Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry shattered numerous NBA records, both as a team and individually, on their way to a 73-9 record on the season, breaking the previous 72-10 mark that seemed unbreakable set by Michael Jordan’s 1996 Chicago Bulls. Curry, the Warriors’ golden boy, became the first player in league history to win the Most Valuable Player award by a unanimous vote on his way to a record-setting 402 3-pointers in the regular season. The Warriors, with their sniperlike long-range shooting and style of “small-ball,” were the clear favorite to win the NBA Championship for the second year in a row until they encountered a king and his company.
In the NBA Finals, the Warriors met LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in what was one of the most dramatic and controversial championship series in recent years. Curry, along with Klay Thompson, carried the Warriors to a 3-1 series lead over James and Kyrie Irving in what looked like a sure victory for the Warriors. Everything was fine until Draymond Green delivered the nut shot heard around the world. King James and the Cavaliers fought back to win three straight games and win the series 4-3 in what was a display of dominance by James to re-establish himself as the best player in the world over Curry and the record-breaking Warriors.
The drama didn’t stop at the end of the NBA finals, it was only the beginning.
Kevin Durant, former league MVP and top five player today, decided to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder after eight years and being one game away from reaching the NBA finals before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
So what team did Durant join in search of his first championship ring? The very team that eliminated him from the playoffs, the Warriors, to join the already historic team. They now form an Avengers-like squad that has the ability to knock down 3-pointers as soon as they step off the bus and will be the odds-on favorite to win the 2017 championship and dethrone King James and the Cavaliers.
Durant isn’t the only star changing teams this offseason.
Dwyane Wade, who played his entire 13-year career with the Miami Heat, ditched the Heat for not being loyal financially to their franchise player and joined the Chicago Bulls, Wade’s hometown team as a kid from Chicago. Derrick Rose, former league MVP and Chicago Bulls star, is moving on from his hometown of Chicago as they traded him to the New Yorks Knicks to hopefully rebuild his career and overcome injuries that have plagued him since being named MVP.
It was the end of an era for two other teams, as the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs said goodbye to legends who played in 13 of the last 18 NBA Finals.
Kobe Bryant, this generation’s Michael Jordan and five-time NBA champion, announced his retirement early on in the NBA season as he felt his body could no longer meet the demands of the grueling 82-game season. Kobe’s final year was spent as a goodbye tour that featured opposing teams honoring the Lakers icon for his competitiveness and numerous accomplishments, including an unbelieveable 81-point game versus the Toronto Raptors in 2006 and the final game of his career, dropping 60 points on the Utah Jazz in an unforgettable farewell performance in the Staples Center.
Tim Duncan, widely regarded as the greatest power forward of all time, has announced his retirement, literally as I’m writing this on a teary-eyed Monday morning of July 11. The greatest Spur of all time and my favorite player ever is hanging it up after winning five championships in three different decades over his 19-year career. A nickname was never so fitting as the “Big Fundamental” was for Duncan, who displayed greatness while being humble, competitiveness while being honorable, and the foundation that built the San Antonio Spurs into what is seen as the model franchise for other teams to follow. Duncan says goodbye without the fanfare, without the celebratory last game send-off, and without even a news conference to speak to the media, staying true to himself; the quiet, selfless superstar who showed that you don’t always have to be loud to lead, you just have to be a leader.
Sports are meant to be entertaining. I like to consider sports the greatest reality show on television. Sure, there may not be any Kardashians or rose-giving ceremonies, but the unpredictable nature and drama of the 2015-2016 NBA season provided theatrics from beginning to end.
