You're going to cringe when you hear (read?) what I'm about to say, as it's one the most cliche statements in the NBA and other sports but still never fails to be 100 percent accurate: Father Time is undefeated.
It doesn't matter who these athletes are. They are still human beings with mortal bodies, and at some point, they are going to start declining.
Just look around the NBA now, and you'll see a handful of stars who are beginning to trend in the wrong direction.
It's no knock against them, either. It's just the cycle of life.
Anyway, here are five NBA stars who are on the decline or are about to enter a decline.
5. Kyle Lowry
It may seem like an odd time to say this seeing as how Kyle Lowry just helped lead the Toronto Raptors to their first ever NBA championship, but it was also blatantly obvious all season long to anyone who has watched Lowry over the course of his career that he is not the same.
Now 33 years old, Lowry dealt with back issues throughout the year and ended up having the least productive season of his seven-year tenure with the Raptors, averaging just 14.2 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the floor and 34.7 percent from three-point range.
Lowry's free-throw rate has also dipped considerably over the last couple of years, an indication that he has lost a step.
The good news is that Lowry got his ring. The bad news is that he may not have much time left as a truly effective player.
4. John Wall
There was a time when John Wall was considered by many to be a top five (sometimes even better) point guards in the league. Those days are long gone, and it's hard to imagine them coming back.
Wall tore his Achilles earlier this season, an injury which almost always rips away an athlete's prime. Unless you're Dominique Wilkins, the prognosis after Achilles tears is, well, not good.
This is especially true for a player like Wall, who relies almost exclusively on his athleticism and his explosiveness to be effective, as he is someone who has never really developed a consistent jumper and has always utilized his blinding speed and quickness to burn defenders.
Wall is just 28 years old, but it's difficult to envision the five-time All-Star ever being the same.
3. Chris Paul
It's hard to believe that Chris Paul was a consensus top three point guard in basketball just a few years ago.
But now, with injuries piling up and old age really beginning to surface, Paul is no longer even in consideration for being a top five floor general in the NBA, as he has failed to play 60 games in either of the last two seasons and is clearly declining on both ends of the court.
Normally a master of efficiency, Paul posted his lowest true-shooting percentage since his second year in the league this season, and his effective field-goal percentage was his worst since 2011.
The fact that the Houston Rockets seem to be willing to dump him and his contract for nothing just puts the cherry on top of how far CP3 has fallen.
2. Kevin Durant
Like Wall, a torn Achilles has probably ruined Durant's career.
Now, I will say that Durant is much more skilled overall than Wall and isn't as dependent upon his athleticism, but let's be honest: this is still going to severely affect Durant to the point where he may never even come close to being the KD we have come to know so well ever again.
It's not like Durant is all that young, either. He will be 31 at the start of next season, so by the time he returns from his Achilles injury, he will be 32 years old and would have probably been on the decline by that point even if he didn't get hurt.
It's sad to say, but Kevin Durant might be gone.
1. LeBron James
Yes, LeBron James still put up monster numbers this past season.
Yes, he is probably still a top three player in the league, at worst.
But for the first time in James' career, he showed vulnerability in terms of his health, as he suffered a groin injury that knocked him out for over a month.
Now, James will be able to lean on Anthony Davis, but with LeBron turning 35 in December and entering his 17th season, it's seeming more and more like a sharp decline may be coming.
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