For the third time in four years and the second straight, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard will not be hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. From 2012 to 2020, at least one of those four was on every champion, and from 2012 to 2019, at least one was on each conference champion, facing off in the NBA Finals.

I’ve been hesitant to realize this, partly because of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood nostalgia and partly because they are all still miraculously playing at a high level. Still, it’s safe to say that the four future Hall of Famers’ perennial dominance in the National Basketball Association is over.

Could one of them still LEAD a team to a title? The 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 in me who saw: Steph Curry swish a 32-footer to beat the Thunder, LeBron James swat Andre Iguoadala’s layup to help win the Cavs a championship, Kevin Durant drain jumper after jumper en route to his famous MVP speech where he so beautifully thanked his mother, and Kawhi Leonard hit a shot over the seven-foot Joel Embiid that danced on the rim for 93 seconds, putting Kevin Harlan and Scotiabank Arena into a frenzy wants me to think it’s possible, but the new era has arrived.

2018 NBA Draft class stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Jalen Brunson are fighting tooth and nail for their teams to advance to the Conference Finals. Nikola Jokić is Nikola Jokićing his way to another finals berth with Anthony Edwards giving him all he has to ensure it doesn’t happen. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are cakewalking through the Eastern Conference.

Fortunately for the Phoenix Suns, they have a star player from the new era who may be able to lead them to a title.

If the Suns’ championship window isn’t closed, Devin Booker is the one leading the way, not Kevin Durant. Turning 28 in October, the Kentucky alum is in the prime years many all-time greats win their first title.

LeBron James was 27, Kevin Durant was 28, Steph Curry was 27, and Nikola Jokić was 28. The Suns aren’t blowing it up before next season starts. Assuming Royce O’Neale is resigned, the top six will stay the same. Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Jusuf Nurkić will be the Valley’s main contributors.

Devin Booker’s ability to lead the Suns to a title remains to be seen. He had multiple 30-point games in the Finals in 2021, helping the Suns win two games in the series, but winning two games in the Finals is not enough to say he can be the top dog on a finals team. Being the best player on a title team is the type of thing that can only be proved by doing it.

It’s a don’t tell me show me type thing. Rightfully, there remains skepticism about Joel Embiid too, whose resume is much more decorated than Booker’s ability to be the best player on a champion. The fact that Booker has experience leading a team to the finals makes the idea feasible.

Kevin Durant is still playing at a high level, for him to be the team’s definitive second-best player means the Suns are in good shape. However, if the Suns are going to win a title in this era, Devin Booker needs to be the team’s best player.