This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Robert Zeglinski.
There’s a heartwarming quote from the last season of the The Office where Andy Bernard tries to put a neat bow on all the crazy hijinks he experienced at Dunder-Mifflin: “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”
Alas, in most cases, it doesn’t happen.
But when it comes to what might be the last legendary playoff battle between the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry, rest assured: We are in the good (old) days. Right. Now. And we should appreciate the time we have watching these two legends going toe-to-toe while we still have them.
On Tuesday, James and Curry will meet in the playoffs for what might be the fifth and final time. It’s their first postseason meeting since that infamous run of NBA Finals tilts at the end of last decade. While Curry’s Warriors went 3-1 against James’ Cleveland Cavaliers, I think most would say that the 2016 Cleveland win — where James ended Golden State’s legendary 73-win season — was the most important.
Now, years later, here they are. Still dunking (on and off the court), still making ridiculous threes, and still kicking as two bona fide all-time NBA legends. We should be so lucky that we even have a chance to watch two of the most unique players in basketball history have at least one more incredible battle. One more show between a man that lived up to all the hype since he was a teenager (James) and perhaps the most creative offensive playmaker/shooter the sport’s ever seen (Curry).
One more series where they trade shot after shot. One more series where James might hike up his shorts to try and defend Curry in the clutch. One series where, when all is said and done, the eventual winner could go on to win a decisive, tie-breaking fifth NBA title.
While still near the top of their respective games, James is nearing 40. Curry is 35. I don’t want to doubt the longevity of two greats, but we won’t have them on the court forever. At the very least, it feels like the end will come within a few years, at most, for both. Father Time always wins, eventually coming for everyone — even two of the best basketball players in history.
So, while you’re having a blast watching Lakers-Warriors unfold over the next two weeks, understand what’s happening. It’s James, and it’s Curry — two icons on an absolute heater near what might be the respective ends of their Hall-of-Fame careers.
In the modern NBA era, James and Curry represent the good old days.
Don’t find yourself with regrets later, wondering how you missed them.
Quick Hits: NFL Draft Mania … Bruins’ heartbreak … and more.
- What an NFL Draft weekend! My pal Christian D’Andrea and I ranked all 32 draft classes, and I have 13 winners and losers from the draft.
- A gut-wrenching “Hindenburg” playoff loss for the Bruins might mean the end of Patrice Bergeron’s remarkable career.
- Umpire Adam Beck seemed so obviously spiteful toward the Brewers’ Willy Adames.