Iconic Players of NBA 2025–26: From Records to Playoff Runs

The 2025-26 NBA season is one of transition. Several of the league's biggest stars of the past generation are approaching retirement, and a new guard of stars is now really coming into their own. But, legends never say die and there are several opportunities this season for the old warriors to bow out with a bang. But what are the key storylines to look out for?

This article will look at players like LeBron James and Steph Curry in context of the records they can still achieve in 2025-26, but also the new generation of court icons, from Luka Doncic to Victor Wembanyama or Jayson Tatum. These are the current NBA legends, and where there stories might go this season.

LeBron James is Still the League's Biggest Active Legend

If active NBA legends is the topic, there's no way LeBron isn't getting a mention. Now in his 40s - and his record-breaking 23rd NBA season - LeBron is still a strong force in the game after all this time.

He only needs 50 games to equal the all time appearances record, and last year became the oldest ever NBA player to score a 40+ game and the only player over 40 to have multiple triple doubles.

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If LeBron can make the All Star team in 2026, he will be the only player over 40 ever to do so. He missed out in 2025, not due to not being selected but injury. That broke his streak of 20 consecutive All Star team appearances, which he had going since 2005. Which was before most of the new crop of youngest NBA players (currently around 17/18 years old) were born.

Nevertheless, there is some sense that LeBron could be approaching the end of his career. Certainly, as one of the only billionaire athletes in the world, he doesn't need to play any more. But few would bet against him bowing out without a bang.

Stephen Curry Could Still Have a Big Final Act

The NBA's all time three point leader still has some records to chase. However, Curry, despite being three years younger than LeBron, has been hit with injuries last year, including missing out on the 2025 NBA Finals.

The legendary point guard and incredible volume scorer has actually been side-lined for the opening weeks of 25/26 as well. Curry's most recent years have seen him take on the clutch shooter role - winning Clutch Player of the Year in 2023-24 and putting on a late but MVP winning appearance in the 2024 All Star Game.

In 2025 he joined LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Karl Malone as the only players to record four consecutive 30-point games while over the age of 35, and also hit 10th in the NBA's all time playoff scoring list - before getting injured in the quarter finals.

It seems uncertain whether Curry will come back from injury as quickly and as dominantly as he has before in his career, but if he does there are still plenty more records he could take.

Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama are the New Gen Stars

Few players were more talked about in 2025 than Luka Doncic. The 25-year-old Slovenian star was settling into his role as franchise defining player at the Dallas Mavericks, before the new team management unceremoniously traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The trade - for fellow NBA All Star Antony Davies - was widely considered one of the most controversial in the history of the league. Doncic, the NBA and the Maverick's top scorer in 2023-24 season, led the team to the NBA finals before being booted before the game.

Even so, in the 2024–25 season, he finished among the league’s top five scorers, averaging over 33 points per game while ranking near the top in assists. That was despite a season of uncertainty and change that he didn't ask for.

Going into 2025/26 Doncic is already looking back to his imperious best form, which saw him become the Maverick's franchise leader in multiple stats after just four years with the team.

Records and Playoff Momentum

While the old guard are basically chasing sentimental records at this point, with LeBron after total games played, the new guards' rivalries are really heating up.

Doncic joining the now 40-year-old LeBron at the Lakers really cemented the possibility that the next two seasons could be one of a changing of the guard. The rising prospect's rivalry with new legends Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could shape the face of NBA storylines in years to come.

Although, few would bet on anyone beating Curry's 4000 career three pointers or LeBron's ridiculous 1000 game long 10 pointer streak anytime soon.