Warriors beat writer Danny Emerman shares his thoughts on the NBA:
This summer in Paris became the greatest celebration of the three most iconic basketball players of the past 15 years: LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
Curry’s “Nuit-Nuit” game-winner will be in his Hall of Fame montage, Durant cemented himself as the greatest Team USA player ever and James brought it all together.
James is 40 years old. Curry and Durant are 36. The idea of retirement has crept into each of their minds, even as they’re still All-Stars.
In the week before the All-Star Game, Durant became the seventh player in league history to cross the 30,000-point threshold. Curry strung together four straight 30-plus point games for the first time since 2021. James lifted the Lakers over Golden State with a vintage 42-point, 17-rebound masterpiece.
Still, they’re not going to be around forever. And although they’ve circled each other for the past couple years, it seems unlikely that they’ll spend the ends of their careers playing alongside one another.
The Warriors tried to trade for James last trade deadline, but he wanted to stay put at home in Los Angeles. They made a push for Durant this February, but Durant opted against a return to Golden State, where he reached the pinnacle of his career but complicated feelings remain.
“You need everybody to be all bought-in no matter what the history you have,” Curry told ESPN this week. “And I respect KD. It’s all about having peace of mind and happiness.”
That leaves All-Star games, including tonight at Chase Center, as possibly the last times the trio lace up together. It’d be shocking if they’re all still around for the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles.
It’s cliche at this point to say we should cherish James, Curry and Durant while they’re still hooping. But it’s true. And they’ve realized it, too. Watch how they play in the All-Star Game, how they interact with each other on and off the court. They’ve carried the league like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird before them. And like Larry and Magic, they’ve developed mutual admiration and love for each other despite going to war over the years.
The Bay Area hosting the All-Star game makes the weekend a shrine to Curry. But he’s never been one to soak up all the spotlight. So, might as well shine it on him, James and Durant — possibly for one last time.
“Severance”: NBA edition
The hit Apple TV series “Severance” operates around the premise in which society has the technology to “sever” one’s brain, completely separating work and life. Hilarity, hijinks, mysteries and moral dilemmas ensue.
Severance is the type of half-baked idea that sounds great conceptually, but as the show depicts, is an absolutely horrible procedure no one should ever consider whatsoever.
Yet there are some NBA things I’d like to sever myself — or at least dissociate — from.
Ninety-nine percent of the NBA is awesome. This column is coming to you by the author of “The NBA is in great shape, actually.” But it doesn’t take a curmudgeon to have pet-peeves and nit-picks.
Things I’d be fine with leaving for my innie.
And what better opportunity to air grievances than the All-Star break, a soulless cash grab where no one involved seems to actually want to be there.
The Skills Challenge
The most bleh event. Not even fun for the kids.
The time between when a game’s supposed to start and it actually tips
It’s an epidemic. No other sport has this issue. The NBA couldn’t even start the Rising Stars Game on time.
Passing up layups for 3s
Especially on fast breaks.
Players waiting for after the buzzer for halfcourt heaves
Your field goal percentage doesn’t matter. Even Duncan Robinson agrees.
Head whipping back to get a call
The lowest form of foul grifting.
The isolation stepback 3 with no shot clock down two or less
Just go to the basket. Jayson Tatum, you’re on notice.
Circling your finger in the air to plead for a review
There’s 10 minutes left in the second quarter. Relax.
Requiem for Roaracle
It was nice to see Oracle Arena back in the mix at All-Star weekend, hosting the Celebrity Game and All-Star practice on Saturday morning.
Curry hit a backward halfcourt shot, igniting the crowd like he did so many times between 2009 and 2019.
“It’s been a minute since we’ve been here,” Curry said on the hardwood. “Love feeling the energy in here, obviously it brings back some great memories. “We did a lot of winning in this building.”
From 2014 to 2019, the Warriors went 218-43 at Oracle. Oakland became the best place in the world to watch a basketball game. You can still feel the energy reverberating through highlights.
Chase Center is an absolute cash cow that has helped the Warriors sustain their exorbitant payrolls. The Warriors have never played a game there that hasn’t been sold out.
But it’ll never be Oracle.
