Well he was hurt most of the year so plenty will give him a pass. The NBA's about more than selling tickets, jerseys, etc they have to sell players too.
By the time Kobe retired LeBron was around his late 20s, Steph/Warriors just had the greatest season ever, KD/Russ were right there, Harden/Dwight, plenty of other shyt. So you had some cushion for the hole from Kobe, plus his last years he was injured anyway, so the transition was easier.
We're in a similar spot now except LeBron's held up and started to eclipse other players, but clearly he's closer to the end. IMO, you can't have the face of a North American league not be from America. It's just a culture difference thing. So Giannis/Luka/Jokic ain't gonna cut it, at least that's the way I see it. So take them out and it's looking pretty bleak you just got a bunch of Bookers, Tatums, Youngs, Lavines, Towns, Mitchells, etc.
Zion already has more star power than all of these guys, so I don't see the Zion Train stopping anytime soon unless his knees do. The NBA needs him to work out.
