The End of an Era
David Andrews
David Andrews
Around this time ten years ago, the NBA was an entirely different place. David Stern was the commissioner, Derrick Rose was a rookie, Carmelo Anthony was on the Nuggets, and the average team scored about 101.45 points per game. The Oklahoma City Thunder had not even been a year old yet. The league was nothing like it is now.
For most teenagers, the NBA back then was the NBA we grew up on. Watching the Celtics’ big three battle it out with Kobe and the Lakers was what we grew up on. Watching young superstars, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony, make their mark on the league was what we grew up on. Watching teams like the Phoenix Suns practically change the league with their new style of play was what we grew up on. In fact, many of the superstars we know and love now were not even in college yet. Players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo were fans just like us, but now everything has changed.
Now defense is a thing of the past, and players like Steph Curry took the Phoenix Suns style of play to an entirely different level. Now Kobe and the Celtics’ big three are all retired and shooting guard Ray Allen even made his way to the Hall of Fame. With Kawhi Leonard now on the Raptors and Tony Parker on the Hornets, the Spurs dynasty is now on its last leg, and when Head Coach Gregg Popovich retires it will be over. Now the young superstars of yesterday are the aging veterans of today. LeBron is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2004-05 season , a year before Hillgrove was even created. Carmelo is currently unemployed, and Dwyane Wade is playing his last season of NBA basketball as we speak.
Many of Hillgrove’s students did not even realize the change until now, and it brought tears to some of their eyes, literally. As Hillgrove Seniors, John Thomas and Jaiden Julian began reminiscing on the “good old days”, the thought of them never seeing their favorite player again, Kobe Bryant, broke their hearts. Of course they knew that he had retired, but they had never acknowledged it until now.
Not only is the entire landscape of the league changing, but we are too. We are on the verge of becoming young adults and this change symbolizes that. What made John and Jaiden get so emotional was not just the fact that Kobe was gone, but the fact that so was their childhood.
After this season, the only active player drafted from the 90s will be Vince Carter because of Dirk Nowitzki’s retirement. LeBron even managed to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. The late 90s and 2000s are gone, and it is finally our generation’s turn to make our mark. Former Hillgrove student, Collin Sexton, is even in the league right now as the Cavaliers starting point guard. Even though it is the end of an era, it is certainly the start of something special.
For most teenagers, the NBA back then was the NBA we grew up on. Watching the Celtics’ big three battle it out with Kobe and the Lakers was what we grew up on. Watching young superstars, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony, make their mark on the league was what we grew up on. Watching teams like the Phoenix Suns practically change the league with their new style of play was what we grew up on. In fact, many of the superstars we know and love now were not even in college yet. Players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo were fans just like us, but now everything has changed.
Now defense is a thing of the past, and players like Steph Curry took the Phoenix Suns style of play to an entirely different level. Now Kobe and the Celtics’ big three are all retired and shooting guard Ray Allen even made his way to the Hall of Fame. With Kawhi Leonard now on the Raptors and Tony Parker on the Hornets, the Spurs dynasty is now on its last leg, and when Head Coach Gregg Popovich retires it will be over. Now the young superstars of yesterday are the aging veterans of today. LeBron is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2004-05 season , a year before Hillgrove was even created. Carmelo is currently unemployed, and Dwyane Wade is playing his last season of NBA basketball as we speak.
Many of Hillgrove’s students did not even realize the change until now, and it brought tears to some of their eyes, literally. As Hillgrove Seniors, John Thomas and Jaiden Julian began reminiscing on the “good old days”, the thought of them never seeing their favorite player again, Kobe Bryant, broke their hearts. Of course they knew that he had retired, but they had never acknowledged it until now.
Not only is the entire landscape of the league changing, but we are too. We are on the verge of becoming young adults and this change symbolizes that. What made John and Jaiden get so emotional was not just the fact that Kobe was gone, but the fact that so was their childhood.
After this season, the only active player drafted from the 90s will be Vince Carter because of Dirk Nowitzki’s retirement. LeBron even managed to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list. The late 90s and 2000s are gone, and it is finally our generation’s turn to make our mark. Former Hillgrove student, Collin Sexton, is even in the league right now as the Cavaliers starting point guard. Even though it is the end of an era, it is certainly the start of something special.
