After the Lakers were eliminated in the first round after losing to the Suns, the possibility for a new NBA champion has significantly increased. For the first time since 2006, Lebron James, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant will not be in the finals. While this fact alone is quite astonishing, many NBA viewers are known to be player-centric as much as team-centric in their basketball fandom (at least speaking from my point-of-view). Players like James and Curry attract high ratings on a yearly basis, but the 2021 playoffs has left us with superstars (with the exception of Kevin Durant , Kyrie Irving, and Kawhi Leonard) who have yet to solidify their basketball career with a championship ring.
Not only does this demonstrate an improved parity across both conferences but also the promising prospect of team basketball. The Jazz and the Suns are two teams who are extremely similar in their roster construction and playing style. They both shoot the 3 ball extremely well, have a traditional big who can offer both an offensive and defensive presence, and move the ball to create plays as opposed to relying on iso-style play that other successful (and unsuccessful) teams have utilized. Who would've thought that Devin Booker or Donovan Mitchell would be this close to winning it all so soon?
Of course, we can't forget about the other superstars who remain in contention and those who are comfortably watching the playoffs from home. New stars are emerging at an alarming rate, and I think this makes the basketball world a hell of a lot more interesting and fun. Will the reigning superstars continue to dominate, or will the young-ins with hunger and relentlessness conquer the throne?