Now longevity feels like an understatement while defining LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant’s NBA careers. Stepping onto the court for years 23, 17, and 19, respectively, this modern-day golden trio of basketball is defying all odds. Indeed, age is just a number for them. And yes, as they prepare for the 2025-26 NBA season, Stan Van Gundy sits courtside. Not as a rival coach, but as someone who will be calling the games for Amazon Prime this season.

Van Gundy couldn’t hold back a laugh before diving into honesty. He admitted to ClutchPoints’ Brett Seigel that it’s a whole lot more fun to watch LeBron, Steph, and KD from the broadcast table than from the sidelines.

He never enjoyed those moments, never found joy in watching them dominate while he coached against them. But now, the view has changed. From the booth, he can finally appreciate the artistry, the brilliance, and the control they bring to the game. What once felt like pain now feels like privilege. “If you look particularly at LeBron and Steph, they may be the two most conditioned basketball players we’ve ever seen. Beyond their talent, I mean, these are two highly conditioned guys,” he admitted.

“Those veterans – Steph, LeBron, and KD – they get it. Nobody really gets it more than Steph Curry with the way he relates to fans and things like that,” the 66-year-old said.

“When you’re as talented as those guys, you can act however you want and get away with it. But these guys understand their responsibility to the game itself and to the fans. I probably have more respect for how they conduct themselves in that way than they do on the court,” he added.

Back then, facing them was pure misery for the former coach. Every night felt like survival mode, watching greatness torch your defense and knowing there was no real answer.

Speaking of Stephen Curry’s impact on basketball fans, look no further than his China Tour in August. Chongqing in 2025 turned into a wild celebration of hoops and heart. Curry Camp charged through Asia, inspiring young players with lessons in skill and spirit.

Curry called it his mission to spark the next generation. Then Curry Con erupted for three electric days. With sneakers, panels, and games as drone shows, murals, and fans lit the city alive.

Meanwhile, Stan Van Gundy’s words carried the warmth of nostalgia and the spark of admiration. Watching today’s NBA feels like witnessing history and evolution in motion.

Back in 2018, a nine-year-old girl named Riley Morrison, a devoted Curry fan, noticed that his signature Curry 5s were only listed in boys’ sizes on the Under Armour website. Frustrated but hopeful, she penned a letter to Curry, pointing out how unfair it was- girls, too, wanted to “rock the Curry 5s.”

Curry didn’t just respond- he acted. He personally wrote back to Riley, acknowledging the oversight and explaining that the smaller sizes had been mislabeled under the “boys” section. Within days, he worked with Under Armour to fix the issue, ensuring future Curry models would be marketed for both boys and girls.

He also sent Riley a custom pair of Curry 5s, promised she’d be among the first to receive the upcoming Curry 6s, and invited her to celebrate International Women’s Day with him in Oakland. He didn’t have to do any of that, but that’s who Steph Curry is.

Even today, as younger stars line up to challenge his throne, Curry continues to uplift rather than isolate. In August 2025, he hosted an exclusive NBA minicamp in Las Vegas, welcoming players like Trae Young and other rising guards to train alongside him.

For Curry, leadership isn’t about holding power- it’s about passing it forward. Whether it’s empowering a young fan to see herself in the game or guiding peers who grew up idolizing him, Curry’s impact reaches beyond the arc. It’s human, lasting, and bigger than basketball, as Stan pointed out.

The torchbearers of greatness are still running strong while the next wave gathers speed. It is a bridge between eras, a stage where veterans and rising stars share the same light and command equal awe.

Van Gundy peeled that layer open, revealing the quiet sacrifices, the recovery battles, and the unbreakable spirit that defines the greats.

Next-gen greatness creeps in as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant continue to rule the NBA

Stan Van Gundy further painted the moment as special, saying fans are lucky to witness the legends’ twilight while a new wave rises.

“We are at an amazing time in the league because fans can tune in to watch the twilight of these legends’ careers, but we have a great group coming up between the young guys and those sort of in the middle. You’ve got Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the first who come to mind,” he said.

The league has always overflowed with talent, but what excites him most now is the presence of genuinely great people. Meanwhile, the former NBA coach admitted that staying elite only gets tougher with age.

He explained how recovery feels effortless in your twenties, but pushing into your late thirties or forties demands real discipline. There’s no room for shortcuts, no skipping the grind.

“You might be able to go out or not watch your diet, but if you’re going to compete with these guys into your late 30s and into your 40s for LeBron, you’ve really got to make some sacrifices. Same with Kevin Durant, but he’s had to come back from major injuries. I have a tremendous amount of respect for those guys,” Van Gundy mentioned.

Thus, the NBA has become a living masterpiece where legends like Stephen Curry, LeBron, and KD still dance with brilliance while the next wave sharpens its claws.