The NBA’s old guard is finally starting to fade. Age, time, and wear have limited the stars of the game. That’s not to say that they aren’t still solid contributors. Every so often one of them can wind back the clock to their former self. But many have experienced declines in their game. Some are clinging onto their dominant footholds, but injuries have started to creep in.
This list will serve as a check-in with how some of the biggest stars from the 2010s are faring in today’s NBA. The list will be limited to active players and will only include those from the 2000-2009 NBA Drafts. Each player will also be given a score out of 10 on how well they are playing now, compared to their peak.
LeBron James
Inarguably the most consistent (if not best overall) player this century, James has adapted well to the modern game despite being 41 years old. Like many of the players on this list, James has benefited from the additional spacing it has provided.
Instead of having to brave seas of defenders, James has easier lanes to the basket. These lanes also allow James to utilize his superb playmaking abilities, which haven’t diminished as he has aged.
That all being said, James’ has experienced a statistical decline. His points per game have been decreasing for several seasons, but his assists and rebounds have stayed largely static.
It would be fair to say that James has lost a step. His defense isn’t what it once was. There are stretches where James plays with the same intensity of his youth, but this is less common for the aging star.
Rating: 7/10
Still a star but not nearly at the level of his peak.
Steph Curry
Because athleticism and explosiveness were never integral parts of Curry’s game, he has aged nicely. His shot hasn’t left him yet—and may never will—as he has shot right around 40% from behind the arc the last few seasons.
Many always assumed that Curry would transition into his later years with grace because of how closely his game was tied to his jump shot.
Where Curry has struggled though is with injuries. Earlier in his career, he often played more than 70 games in a season—he has only crossed that threshold twice in the last seven seasons.
Curry is more than capable of posting gaudy box scores as he crossed 40 points several times this season, despite being injured for much of the back half. But these have become far more sporadic.
Rating: 8/10
The shooting continues to be undeniable, but injuries have taken a toll.
Kevin Durant
Somehow, Durant played the most games this year since his 2018-2019 season. He did this while maintaining his superhuman efficiency. It seems almost impossible that Durant has been this consistent in this regard for so long.
Those miles did come back to hurt Durant though as he sustained an injury to his ankle that limited his time in the playoffs.
Similarly to Curry, because his game is predicated on shooting the basketball, the modern NBA is perfectly suited to his strengths. Teams today also encourage opposing offensive players to take more mid-range jumpers as they are a more inefficient shot than a 3-pointer or layup.
However, Durant excels in this range. He makes some of the most mid-range shots out of anyone in the league. His supersized frame and high release make contests a mere prayer.
Rating: 7/10
The big scoring outbursts are far less common, but Durant is always a threat to drop 30.
James Harden
Modern officiating has been kind to Harden. One of the pioneers of the “flop,” Harden can utilize these skills to his advantage, even in old age. He is still one of the premier foul drawers in the league.
Harden’s days as an offensive engine may be behind him though. His scoring continues to dip, and his trips to the free throw line are a fraction of what they used to be.
He’s transitioned into more of a facilitator role, which suits him well. Additionally, his efficiency numbers haven’t dropped all that much either. Nor has he missed loads of games in the last three seasons—playing at least 70 in all three.
Harden is simply adjusted to different expectations as his role on his teams has also changed. Now on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the need for Harden to be the leading scorer isn’t as large with Donovan Mitchell beside him in the backcourt.
Rating: 6.5/10
Still can be a great player but has settled into a different stage of his career.
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is a victim of an aging body. The explosiveness that he once possessed in his early years has slowly left him. The foundation of Westbrook’s game was his athleticism and unrelenting motor. It’s what made him so fun to watch during his prime years.
But that element of his game just isn’t there anymore. It’s most evident in his dunk stats. Westbrook was once one of the most electrifying dunkers in the league, but the miles on his body have made this style of play difficult to sustain.
Since the 2020-2021 season, Westbrook has only one season where he has more than 25 made dunks on the season. In every season prior to this, Westbrook never went below that mark. In 2025-2026, Westbrook managed only eight dunks all year.
He logged quite a few minutes on a very poor Sacramento Kings team, but his role was clearly different from earlier in his career.
Rating: 4/10
He still finds ways to fill up the box score, but his days of being among the league’s best are behind him.
