The competitive landscape of the NBA seems to be undergoing subtle changes in recent years. Once upon a time, superstar huddles became a trend, with players joining forces to pursue championship glory. However, the first-round exits of the Suns, Lakers and Clippers this season, as well as Durant's multiple unsuccessful attempts to assemble a giant roster, seem to send a message to us that the road to superstar huddles doesn't always lead to success.
At the same time, some teams that have cultivated their own stars, such as the Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves, etc., are gradually emerging as new forces in the league. Through drafts, trades, and internal development, these teams have gradually built a roster with young players at the core, and they have shown strong team cohesion and fighting power in the game. (Live streaming and replay of sports events are free to watch|.) Link3）
Behind this phenomenon is a reflection of a change in the NBA's competitive strategy. Although the superstar huddle can quickly improve the overall strength of the team, there are also many problems. First of all, the chemistry between superstars isn't always what people want it to be, and it takes time and games to develop the chemistry and chemistry between players. Secondly, superstar huddles often lead to an imbalance in the team's salary structure, making it difficult for the team to renew contracts and bring in reinforcements. Finally, the superstar huddle can also deprive some young players of space and opportunities to grow, thus affecting the long-term development of the team.
In contrast, self-cultivation of stars has more advantages. First of all, it takes time and patience for young players to develop, but they are often better able to integrate into the team culture and build strong friendships with their teammates. Secondly, self-developing stars can make the team more reasonable in terms of salary structure and lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of the team. Finally, the growth of young players can also bring more energy and excitement to the team, making the game more enjoyable.
To sum up, although superstar huddles were once all the rage in NBA history, with the passage of time and changes in competitive strategies, self-cultivation of stars is gradually becoming the new mainstream. In the future, we can expect more teams to rise through self-cultivation of stars and shine on the NBA stage.