While James becomes the record holder for career games played, KD surpasses Michael Jordan in fifth place in the all-time scorers list. While the “great old men” still take the covers, the NBA is struggling to find new protagonists who will take up its gigantic media legacy
LeBron James surpasses Robert Parish and becomes the record holder for games played in the regular season, 1612. Kevin Durant surpasses Michael Jordan as the fifth best scorer ever, now behind only Bron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant. James and Durant, Durant and LeBron. Still them, always them. And there’s Steph Curry injured, otherwise we’d also be talking about his relentless triples, the trio that has been the star of the NBA for over 15 years. Of the three who won the Olympic gold medal for the United States in Paris in the summer of 2024 in the face of the registry office. Is it possible that the NBA won’t find alternatives, not so much technical ones – Nikola Jokic is a champion never seen before, he dominates without jumping – but more in terms of image? Yes, that’s the reality of things. The Joker, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokoumpo, Victor Wembanyama, in short the cover Europeans, are trying to impose a changing of the guard, but so far with mixed success. Then there are, or rather there aren’t yet, the Americans. Ant Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are among those who are suspended, Dante would write. There’s Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who wins, but doesn’t move a leaf in terms of charismatic impact. In the States they have high hopes for Cooper Flagg. Projections, expectations. But “the meat” is missing. Great players, sure. But not the “monsters” capable of combining prowess and triumphs, titles and overflowing personality. Replacement wanted, desperately.
