Legacy Watch for the NBA's Biggest Stars Entering 2013-14 Season
For the NBA's biggest stars, there's a lot on the line heading into the 2013-14 season.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are gunning for a three-peat, while Kobe Bryant is just hoping to return to form after tearing his Achilles tendon. With Doc Rivers in tow, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin need to transform the Los Angeles Clippers into legitimate championship contenders, while James Harden and Dwight Howard aim to do the same for the Houston Rockets.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are simply looking to bounce back from a disappointing end to the 2012-13 season. And after missing an entire year to recover from his ACL surgery, it's imperative for Derrick Rose to come back looking better than ever.
A single season typically won't make or break a player's legacy, but it can go a long way toward defining how he'll be remembered.
Here, let's look at what's at stake for the league's biggest stars during the 2013-14 season.
Note: Each player has a "Legacy Watch Meter," from 1-10, that ranks how much this season matters when defining their overall legacy. Players are organized here from lowest to highest based on their Legacy Watch Meter rating.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
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Of all the NBA's top stars, the 2013-14 season matters least to Tim Duncan in terms of overall legacy.
No matter what happens with the Big Fundamental from this point forward, he's a lock to be remembered as one of the league's 10 greatest players ever.
That's not to discount what he did last season, however. He finished with the highest per-36-minute block rate of his career (3.2), posted an insane 30 points and 17 rebounds in Game 6 of the NBA Finals and was 28 seconds away from his fifth ring.
Heading into his 17th career season in 2013-14, one has to wonder if Father Time will finally start winning his ongoing battle with Duncan. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will assuredly continue limiting Duncan's minutes in the regular season, but there's only so much one can do to protect a 37-year-old player.
With four championships, three finals MVPs and two regular-season MVPs to his name, Duncan has entered the "everything else is gravy" portion of his career. He can add some icing to the cake when it comes to his legacy, but he could retire tomorrow and still go down as one of the all-time greats.
Legacy Watch Meter: 1 of 10
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
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Just like his teammate Tim Duncan, the 2013-14 season likely won't go a long way toward defining Tony Parker's legacy.
Even if he retired tomorrow, he'd go down as one of the best international players in NBA history. He's already got three championship rings and fell only a few seconds shy of winning a fourth in 2012-13.
Based on what the San Antonio Spurs accomplished last year, it's a fool's errand to predict when they'll begin to decline. They've been a chic pick to fall apart for years, and yet, without fail, they just keep on churning out 50-win seasons.
With Duncan and Manu Ginobili only getting closer to 40, Parker needs to be the engine that fuels the Spurs' success from this point forward. Before battling an ankle injury late in the 2012-13 regular season, Parker had a legitimate claim to seizing the "best point guard in the NBA" title from Chris Paul.
This year, he's got an outside shot at usurping Paul for that throne. That makes this season slightly more important for Parker than Duncan, even though both players are already locks for the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Legacy Watch Meter: 2 of 10
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
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Besides the San Antonio Spurs stars, Dirk Nowitzki has the least to prove in 2013-14.
Realistically, the Dallas Mavericks' 2011 NBA championship served as the ultimate validation of Dirk's career. Even if he retired tomorrow, he'd go down as the best foreign big man to ever play the game.
Before Nowitzki, the thought of a 7-foot jump shooter sent chills down the spines of coaches. Bigs were supposed to play in paint, not drift around the perimeter like guards.
Dirk's sweet stroke permanently changed that perception. His vintage off-balance, on-one-leg fadeaway is a thing of beauty, the likes of which we may never see again.
Had Nowitzki entered the 2013-14 season still in search of his first ring, the pressure would be astronomical. The Mavericks appear nowhere close to contending for a championship, which would raise questions about whether he really wanted to spend the rest of his career with a rebuilding roster.
As it stands, though, Nowitzki has little reason to go ring chasing as he fades into the twilight of his career. His legacy as the best-shooting 7-footer in NBA history is firmly established even if he can't win another ring before he retires.
Legacy Watch Meter: 2 of 10
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Few third-year players face true "make-or-break" seasons, and Kyrie Irving is no exception.
The budding Cleveland Cavaliers superstar won't be writing the first line of his career's epitaph in 2013-14, barring a miracle run to the 2014 NBA championship.
That doesn't mean Irving's off the hook no matter what happens, a la Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, though. He needs to make major strides as a defender this season to be rightfully considered one of the league's best point guards.
Luckily for Irving, his new head coach, Mike Brown, just so happens to be a defensive specialist. Brown won't allow Irving to skate by on that end of the floor, no matter how electric he may be offensively.
Any player that's capable of weaving his way through Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and James Harden in one possession is a virtual lock to be one of the NBA's best up-and-coming players. It's up to Brown's defensive tutelage to determine just how high Irving can rise in 2013-14.
Legacy Watch Meter: 3 of 10
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
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How can Paul George top a year where he was named the NBA's Most Improved Player and fell one game shy of the finals?
Prove that the 2012-13 season was only a sign of things to come.
There's little question that George has the talent to be one of the league's best players. Anyone that's quick enough to blow by LeBron James and dunk over Chris "Birdman" Andersen in one fell swoop has budding superstar written all over him.
In 2013-14, he'll need to continue building upon his success. The Indiana Pacers have the talent to impede the Miami Heat from making their fourth straight trip to the finals, but they can't afford a letdown season from George.
If he can demonstrate during the 2013-14 season why Indiana just rewarded him with a five-year max contract, no team will want to draw the Pacers in the playoffs. If he starts out slow, a la Roy Hibbert last year, things could turn ugly, quickly.
Legacy Watch Meter: 4 of 10
James Harden, Houston Rockets
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Last year, James Harden transformed from star sixth man to a straight-up superstar.
In 2013-14, with Dwight Howard in tow, it's time for Harden to lead the Houston Rockets deep into the playoffs.
Harden averaged an eye-popping 25.9 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals during his first season as a starter last year. The Rockets offense, especially late in games, often devolved into "hand the ball to Harden and let him bail us out."
Howard's presence on the Houston roster this year should open up a bevy of offensive options for the Rockets. In turn, the defensive attention he attracts should free up Harden for far more open shots than he saw in 2012-13.
It's not championship-or-bust in the first year of this Howard-Harden pairing, but the Rockets shouldn't settle for another first-round playoff exit. Far more pressure will rest on Howard's massive shoulders than Harden in that regard, but an early playoff demise would raise questions about both players.
Legacy Watch Meter: 5 of 10
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
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Dwyane Wade didn't take kindly to Kevin Durant's assertion that Wade is no longer a top-10 player in the NBA.
It's up to Wade in 2013-14 to prove to Durant and the rest of his doubters that he's not permanently on the decline.
Wade struggled through knee injuries each of the past two seasons, raising questions about his long-term viability as a sidekick to LeBron James. It's difficult to fathom the Miami Heat cutting ties with Wade following the 2013-14 season, but if they're forced to make a choice between Wade and James, they're pretty obviously siding with the latter.
With three championships already under his belt, D-Wade's place in NBA history is already secure. He's going down as one of the best shooting guards ever to play the game, even if injury problems derail his career from here.
Adding a fourth ring, which isn't so far-fetched, would only help him move up the all-time ranks. And, better yet, could splash egg all over the face of Durant.
Legacy Watch Meter: 6 of 10
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
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Dwyane Wade isn't the only star shooting guard facing questions about his place in the NBA's upper echelon in 2013-14.
Kobe Bryant, fresh off surgery on his Achilles tendon, needs to come back with a vengeance to erase any doubts about his chances of remaining elite.
It remains unclear exactly when we'll see Bryant make his 2013-14 season debut. Regardless of when it happens, it's critical for KB24 not to experience any setbacks, given his potentially uncertain future with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Barring an unforeseen extension, Kobe's contract will expire following the 2013-14 season. His reported unwillingness to take a major pay cut could put the Lakers between a rock and a hard place next summer, as no franchise can afford locking up half its salary cap on a 35-year-old player coming off a major injury.
With five NBA championships to his name, Kobe's place in NBA history is already secure, no matter what happens from here on out. This season will go a long way toward determining what the twilight of Bryant's career looks like, however.
Legacy Watch Meter: 6 of 10
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
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For the first time in his career, Stephen Curry will enter the 2013-14 season with a league-wide target on his back.
Curry was the first major star of the 2013 playoffs, helping fuel the Golden State Warriors' first-round upset over the heavily favored Denver Nuggets. He's been a transcendent three-point shooter since entering the league, but the 2013 playoffs presented the entire basketball-viewing nation with its first taste of Curry fever.
Now, with the offseason addition of Andre Iguodala, the Warriors shouldn't be ruled out as a potential championship contender in the West. It's up to Curry to ensure the Dubs don't experience a letdown.
If the former Davidson star's famously balky ankles give out at any point, it would instantly derail the Warriors' championship aspirations. Curry must prove during the 2013-14 season that he's put injury concerns (at least with his ankles) permanently in the rear-view mirror.
Assuming Curry can stay healthy, his meteoric rise to superstardom should continue unchecked. The 2013-14 season will go a long way toward determining Curry's place among the league's top point guards, one way or another.
Legacy Watch Meter: 7 of 10
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
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According to Blake Griffin, the arrival of Doc Rivers in Los Angeles means the death of "Lob City."
As strange as it might sound, that might be the best possible scenario for the Los Angeles Clippers big man in 2013-14.
Fair or not, three years into his NBA career, Griffin's reputation is that of a flashy dunker with very little other substance to his game. Critics can point to his gradually declining rebound rate (from 18.6 percent as a rookie to 15.2 percent in 2012-13, per Basketball Reference) as proof that Griffin's growth has stagnated.
Given how Rivers used Kevin Garnett in Boston, it's highly unlikely that Griffin will be allowed to camp around the basket for nothing more than easy dunks. Rivers favors big men who can step out and hit a mid-range jump shot when need be.
And wouldn't you know it: Griffin told ESPN's Shelley Smith that he's been working on his face-up game from 10 to 15 feet. If he unfurls that newfound mid-range game once the season starts, his critics will lose their silver bullet.
Legacy Watch Meter: 7 of 10
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
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The 2012-13 season went down as a lost year for Kevin Love.
He missed a total of 64 games due to a twice-broken hand and a knee injury that required season-ending surgery, and the Minnesota Timberwolves faltered in his absence.
That injury-ravaged year leaves Love with "a lot to prove" this coming season, Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman said during media day, according to CBSsports.com's Zach Harper.
Coming into the 2012-13 season, Love looked like one of the league's best, most unique big men. He led the league in rebounding while shooting over 40 percent from three-point range in 2010-11, then followed that up by averaging an insane 26.0 points and 13.3 rebounds per game the next year.
No player in NBA history grabbed more rebounds in a single season while shooting at least 40 percent from downtown than Love did in 2010-11, according to Basketball Reference.
With a potential contract opt-out looming in two years' time, Love must prove in 2013-14 that he's back to being one of the league's most dominant, versatile big men.
Legacy Watch Meter: 8 of 10
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Believe it or not, the 2013-14 season will mark Kevin Durant's sixth year in the NBA.
That means the honeymoon phase of his career is officially coming to an end.
As incredible as Durant has been during his first five years in the league, he needs to continue pushing the boundaries of his game. LeBron James isn't just going to hand him the MVP award or a championship, after all.
Last year, Durant became one of only two players in league history to average 25 points per game while shooting at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the charity stripe, per Basketball Reference. He also set new career highs in assists per game (4.6) and assist percentage (21.7).
With Russell Westbrook now expected to be sidelined for the first month of the 2013-14 season, even more responsibility will fall upon Durant's slender shoulders. Without Westbrook's presence on the floor, defenses will throw the kitchen sink at K.D. and force his teammates to beat them.
Once Westbrook returns, it's up to he and Durant to prove that the Oklahoma City Thunder's best days aren't already behind them. Otherwise, Durant's "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" reputation could further blossom in the coming years.
Legacy Watch Meter: 8 of 10
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Coming off the first major injury of his professional career, the 2013-14 season was already shaping up to be a trying one for Russell Westbrook.
When news broke during the preseason that he'd miss the first four to six weeks of the regular season due to a second surgery on his right knee, the stakes only shot higher.
Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder are exceptionally wise for taking the long-term approach with his recovery. Dwyane Wade, who had his own meniscus removed during college, praised the OKC staff for how they handled Westbrook's injury, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Assuming Westbrook misses a ballpark of 15 games, the Thunder's quest for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs could take a major hit. As long as he comes back as the same ferociously explosive player he was prior to his injury, though, a No. 2 or 3 seed won't be the end of the world.
At this point, it's foolish to expect him to evolve into a pass-first point guard along the lines of Steve Nash. He is who he is: A dynamite athlete whose scoring ability opens up opportunities for his teammates on nearly every possession.
There's no reason to assume that these surgeries robbed him of that athleticism, but until we see otherwise, it's at least a slight possibility. Westbrook's place as a top-10 NBA player could be in jeopardy if he struggles to reacclimate himself to the game, which would also spell doom for the Thunder's title chances.
Legacy Watch Meter: 8 of 10
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
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Few NBA players have as much on the line in 2013-14 as Carmelo Anthony.
The New York Knicks star, coming off the finest season in his career, is running out of time to prove that he's capable of being the No. 1 option on a championship team.
At this point, there's no denying Anthony's scoring prowess. He captured his first scoring title in 2012-13, edging Kevin Durant after averaging an unfathomable 36.9 points per game in April.
However, elite scoring alone isn't enough to propel a team to a championship. 'Melo's effort on defense can often be described as lackluster at best, and he appeared to regress last season as a passer, too.
The Knicks locked up the East's No. 2 seed in 2012-13, but the top of the conference only got tougher this offseason. Between the Indiana Pacers bolstering their bench depth, the Brooklyn Nets waving a middle finger to the luxury tax and Derrick Rose's return to Chicago, the Knicks will face a dogfight for a top-four playoff seed this year.
There's no telling how another earlier-than-expected flameout would weigh on Anthony, who has the option of becoming an unrestricted free agent following this season. To prove he's truly worthy of the "elite player" label, he'll need to guide the Knicks deep into the playoffs this season, despite the tough competition ahead.
Legacy Watch Meter: 9 of 10
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
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In Chris Paul's first meeting with new Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, he received some tough love.
"He pretty much told me I wasn't anything," Paul told Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears. "He told me I hadn't done anything in this league, and he was right."
Rivers, who helped guide the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title, effectively told CP3 that he needs a championship to validate his career.
He's largely been considered the league's best point guard for the past half-decade, but he hasn't yet made it past the second round of the playoffs. For a 28-year-old with a history of knee problems, that's more than a slight concern.
At the moment, the 2013-14 season appears to be Paul's greatest opportunity to advance deep into the playoffs. The Clippers added a championship-winning coach in Rivers and fortified their depth by adding Jared Dudley, Darren Collison and J.J. Redick, setting themselves up for sustained success this coming year.
It's not necessarily now-or-never when it comes to Paul winning a championship, but we're not too far away from that, either. If he wants to be remembered as more than just one of the best point guards from the late 2000s, he'll need to lead the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals or beyond this season.
Legacy Watch Meter: 9 of 10
LeBron James, Miami Heat
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Not even four months removed from winning his second NBA championship, LeBron James still can't escape discussions about his legacy.
He only fueled that discussion by telling reporters at the Miami Heat's 2013 media day that he hopes to become the greatest player in league history.
The 2013-14 season will go a long way toward determining James' place among the all-time greats.
If he's able to pull off the three-peat with his Miami Heat teammates, he'll be halfway to Michael Jordan's total ring count with a seemingly endless ceiling. With four regular-season MVPs under his belt already, he also appears to have an extremely realistic shot of beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record six MVP awards.
On the other hand, it took a miracle three-pointer from Ray Allen in Game 6 of the 2013 finals to spare the Heat from a summer of misery. If James and the Heat fall short in their quest for three consecutive championships, it's going to spark instant speculation about whether Miami's Big Three will part ways during the 2014 offseason.
Thanks to his two titles, James' place in NBA history is already secure. To force his way into the top five all-time, though? Pulling off the three-peat this season would only help his cause.
Legacy Watch Meter: 9 of 10
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
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After missing the entire 2012-13 season to recover from ACL surgery, the stakes couldn't be higher for Derrick Rose in 2013-14.
Rose recently told reporters that he's "ready to go out there and play," according to ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell, but the true test will come on opening night against the Miami Heat.
The Chicago Bulls gutted out 45 wins in Rose's absence last year but clearly weren't the same team without their on-court leader. Rose's return should help return the team to being a legitimate contender to dethrone the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference.
Since the 2012-13 season devolved into a public-relations disaster when it came to his return, there's less margin for error for Rose this year. If he's reluctant to explode to the rim at first, a deluge of criticism won't be far behind.
Seeing as he's 18 months removed from the surgery, there's no reason to expect Rose to be limited once he regains his rhythm. In fact, there's a strong likelihood that he bounces back with vigor, reminding everyone just why he was named the youngest MVP in league history back in 2011.
No matter what happens, Rose's return will be one of the league's biggest storylines this season. One way or the other, it'll be a legacy-defining season for the Bulls point guard.
Legacy Watch Meter: 10 of 10
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
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No NBA player has more at stake in the 2013-14 season than Dwight Howard.
A few years ago, he was considered the league's premier big man. He won back-to-back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2008-09 through 2010-11, firmly establishing himself as the most dominant defensive force in the league.
Then, a mixture of his never-ending free-agent "Dwightmare" and a back injury knocked him off his perch, with Tyson Chandler, Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert more than happy to pick up the slack.
A lackluster one-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012-13 additionally did no favors for Howard's reputation. He spurned the Lakers for the Houston Rockets during 2013 free agency, which effectively eliminated any of his remaining excuses.
With his teammate James Harden fully capable of handling most of the scoring load, Howard needs to get back to basics in Houston. He must anchor the Rockets defense if they have any chance of surviving the minefield that is the Western Conference.
After years of waffling about his future, Howard finally made his decision in 2013. Now, it's time for him to prove that he made the right choice; otherwise, his legacy risks being permanently tarnished.
Legacy Watch Meter: 10 of 10
