Falling Down Just to Stand Up

Over the last 20 years or so in the NBA, there's a fascinating trend that has developed: rarely do the league's biggest stars immediately find championship success on their first trip to the Finals or a grand, high-pressure stage. In that time period, Tim Duncan is the superstar to have won a championship within a year or two of his rookie campaign and in his first major appearance on a big stage. Gone are the days where stars like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson can reach the ultimate pinnacle for the first time in their careers without first suffering a high-profile playoff loss or two.

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