Durant is 36 years old, his era has passed, and now is the era of young people

On June 9, in the long history of the NBA, every era has its own iconic superstars, who write their own legends with their talents and hard work. However, time is the most ruthless opponent, and even the greatest players cannot resist the erosion of time. Now, Curry and Durant are both 36 years old, James has entered the age of 41, and Westbrook and Harden have also reached the threshold of 35. The once powerful "old generation" superstars are gradually giving the center of the stage to the new generation of young players. This year's Finals are the best proof--the two young superstars, Alexander and Halliburton, led their respective teams to the highest stage, announcing the arrival of a new era in the NBA.

Looking back on the past decade, Curry, Durant, James, Harden and Westbrook are undoubtedly the rulers of the league. Curry used his historically level three-point shooting ability to completely change the way of basketball games and led the Warriors to establish a dynasty; Durant is an unsolvable scoring machine, and whether in the Thunder, the Warriors or the Nets, he is the most troublesome defensive problem for his opponents; James is even more "ageless myth". Since entering the league in 2003, he has always maintained his peak state and led different teams to win championships; Harden and Westbrook interpreted the MVP-level performance in their respective ways. Harden's explosive scoring power and Westbrook's all-round triple-double data have both made fans crazy. However, as they grow older and injuries accumulate, these former superstars inevitably start to go downhill. Although they can still contribute to high-level competitions, their dominance is no longer as good as before.

In contrast, on this year's finals stage, the rise of Alexander and Halliburton was eye-catching. Alexander, the 25-year-old Thunder defender, led the young Thunder team through the finals with his unsolvable breakthrough and mid-range jump shot. His game style is calm and sophisticated, and his big heart performance at a critical moment reminds people of the young Kobe. Halliburton is the core point guard of the Pacers. At the age of 24, he is already one of the best playmakers in the league. His passing vision and three-point shooting ability make the Pacers' offense smooth. These two young superstars not only have outstanding personal abilities, but more importantly, the teams they lead are full of vitality and potential, representing the future direction of the NBA. The rise of the younger generation is no accident. The NBA has always been a metabolic league, and every generation of players will go through the process from rookie to peak and then to retirement. Nowadays, a large number of talented young players have emerged in the league. In addition to Alexander and Halliburton, Doncic, Tatum, Edwards, Morant and others have also shown the potential of superstars. These young people are not only skilled, but also have excellent physical fitness. What’s more important is that they have an international vision and game style that older generation players do not have. Doncic is from Slovenia, and his game IQ and comprehensiveness are amazing; Tatum is a typical representative of the US forward, with an offense and defense; Edwards and Morant conquered fans with their explosive athletic ability. These young players are redefining the NBA's game style in their own ways.

Of course, the contributions of the older generation of superstars cannot be ignored. It is their efforts and achievements that set an example for young players and laid a solid foundation for the development of the NBA. Curry used three-pointers to change the tactical system of basketball, Durant showed the ultimate form of a scorer, James proved the importance of self-discipline and professionalism, and Harden and Westbrook interpreted the value of MVP in their respective ways. Their legend will continue to inspire later players. But it is undeniable that the NBA's scepter is handed over, and a new generation of young superstars are ready to take over the torch and lead the league to a new height.

This year's finals may just be the beginning. With the further maturity of young players such as Alexander and Halliburton, the NBA will be more exciting in the next few years. The competition among young players will be more intense, and the strength comparison between teams will be more balanced. For fans, this is undoubtedly an era worth looking forward to - we will witness how the new generation of superstars write their own legends and how to bring the NBA to new glory. The era of the older generation of superstars may have passed, but the charm of basketball will never fade, and a new story has just begun.