Time’s up: OGs LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have finally been asked off the court

Older guys can still play football.

LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant all quickly left the NBA postseason, but their shooting ability stays outstanding. They routinely outperform and beat players 15 years younger than them. No one denies that James, Curry and Durant, a few of the biggest champions of all time, are still elite at their craft.

Honestly, it’s amazing how well they’re doing at this stage with James at 39, Curry at 36, and Durant at 35. These are our “OG3” players who we have been enthusiastic about since day one once they arrived with fanfare. But in NBA terms they’re virtually obsolete. And it looks like theirs time is up.

The guard has modified, the torch has gone out, and what stays is the latest NBA world order. It’s going to take some getting used to, like when Aunt Viv was transformed into The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Daphne Maxwell Reid began pushing Janet Hurbert into the recesses of our memories.

Every yr since 2005, a minimum of one OG3 player has reached the second round of the playoffs. All three reached the finals in 2017 and 2018. But that era ended with a whimper. Curry and the Golden State Warriors were bounced by Sacramento in the play-in tournament. Durant and the Phoenix Suns were defeated by Minnesota in the first round, while James and the Los Angeles Lakers were barely more competitive, eliminated by defending champion Denver after five games.

This is uncharted territory for fans who have grown up watching OG3 make deep playoff runs over the last 20 years. James reached the NBA Finals in eight consecutive seasons (2010-18), a complete of 10 times, representing about half of his profession. Curry was also a fixture on the team during this era, winning 4 championships in six trips to the finals. Durant reached three Finals with Curry after 4 Western Conference Finals with Oklahoma City.

Now they have grow to be old men at the club. They still have moves and good play, but they’re misplaced amongst young players who want this place for themselves.

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Timberwolves defenseman Anthony Edwards says Durant does his all-time favorite player, but a budding superstar she was crazy disrespect during the first round series. Edwards taunted and taunted his elder, allegedly calling Durant “old nigga” who cannot guard it. It was an affectionate trash talk that did not destroy their relationship and wasn’t taken personally.

“I love everything about Ant, everything” – Durant he said Sunday after Edwards dropped 40 points in the final game. “…I was very impressed by him. He will be someone I will follow for the rest of my career.”

OG3 players had higher get used to the sight of following Edwards (22) and other rising MVP candidates like Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas’ Luka Dončić (each 25). They all play in the Western Conference, leaving James, Curry and Durant with little prospect of additional titles. And that is before we get to 29-year-old Nikola Jokić, who is about to win his third MVP award in the last 4 seasons.

Durant faces an uncertain situation with Phoenix, which has an under-constructed power team after mortgaging its future on the acquisition of him and Bradley Beal. Curry could lose fellow sharpshooter Klay Thompson when Golden State finally recovers from its unexpected championship win two years ago. The Lakers are in constant flux as a result of a struggling head coach, a poor roster, and all eyes on James, who could opt out of his contract and grow to be a free agent.

James’ pending decision is the juiciest drama left for OG3, who have a great probability of adding one other NBA ring to their collection.

At least they’ll have one last probability to realize some international glory this summer at the Paris Olympics before that ship too sails.

Durant desires to grow to be the first player to win 4 Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball. James is competing in his fourth Olympics and has two gold medals and a shameful bronze by American standards on his resume. Curry is a neophyte who at all times wanted to realize Olympic experience, however it didn’t work out before.

“I think the timing is right” – Curry he said Associated Press when the team was announced last month. “I’m at a later stage in my profession. This might be the last probability I have to play. This made it much easier for me to say, “This makes sense.”

OG3 will certainly not be a part of the 2028 U.S. Olympic team. We will miss them on the world stage just as much as we’ll miss them in the NBA Playoffs.

It’s true, they will still play football.

But the children eventually drove them off the field.