OKLAHOMA CITY — The NBA is witnessing a generational shift as younger stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton lead their teams, the Thunder and Pacers, to prominence, while veterans like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have been sidelined. This evolution reflects a change in roster construction towards more balanced, egalitarian play, moving away from star-centric models, as highlighted by the success of teams like Denver. Players in the Finals express pride in their smaller market teams, emphasizing community support and the viability of building competitive rosters regardless of market size.