Father Time is undefeated, folks.
Stephen Curry won't make an All-NBA team this season - only the second time since 2013-14 that the Warriors legend will be left off the list. The reason? He fell short of the 65-game minimum required for awards eligibility. An injury-plagued season has cost Curry a chance to extend his five-year All-NBA streak.
Let that sink in. One of the greatest players of this generation, maybe the greatest shooter ever, can't stay healthy enough to qualify for awards. His resume includes multiple MVP awards, championships, and a legacy that changed how basketball is played. But at 38 years old, his body isn't cooperating anymore.
When Curry plays, he's still great. The shooting touch is still there. The vision, the handles, the competitiveness - all there. But he can't stay on the floor. And in today's NBA, with the 65-game rule designed to combat load management, availability matters.
The rule is controversial. Players hate it. Agents hate it. Some fans hate it. But it's doing exactly what it was designed to do - rewarding players who show up night after night. Curry isn't load managing by choice. He's injured. But the rule doesn't care about the reason.
From 2013-14 through last season, Curry made an All-NBA team eleven times. First Team. Second Team. Third Team. He was always there. A constant. One of the faces of the league. Now? He's on the outside looking in.
This is what aging looks like for even the greats. It's not a sudden collapse. It's the body breaking down. Missing games here and there. Nagging injuries that linger. Recovery taking longer. The inevitable decline that comes for everyone.
Golden State is struggling this season, and Curry's absence is a big reason why. When your best player can't play, it doesn't matter how talented your roster is. The Warriors need him on the floor, and he can't stay there.
Here's the reality: Curry has nothing left to prove. Four championships. Two MVPs. Changed the game forever. His legacy is secure. But watching him lose eligibility for awards because of injuries? That's a reminder that even legends are mortal.
The streak is over. For only the second time in twelve years, no All-NBA selection. It had to end sometime. That's what sports is all about, folks. The greatness. And eventually, the decline.
