Derrick Rossignol

An athlete's peak tends to coincide with the youthfulness of their 20s. Sometimes, though, that apex happens when they've had more time to marinate in experience, and that's sometimes true in the NBA.

The three-point shot is more valuable in the NBA now than it has ever been. Some teams have embraced this more than others, as records indicate: Some franchises' all-time leaders in made threes are contemporary shooters, while other teams' records have stood for decades.

"It will blow your brain straight out of your head," Damian Kulash declared months before releasing the video that did just that.

The regular season is important, but NBA legends are made in the playoffs. More specifically, it's the Finals where the all-time greats have built their otherworldly reputations.

The NBA regular season is necessary, but really, the league is at its most exciting during the playoffs. It's where legends are made, or where players face the biggest disappointments of their professional lives.

NBA teams have a lot of moving pieces, and it largely falls on the head coach to keep everything under control. Sometimes, they have one star that's a perfect fit for what they're trying to accomplish, and the relationship works out perfectly.

The offseason is the perfect time for NBA teams to reconsider their assets and chart a new direction. Sometimes, these moves can completely change a franchise's fortunes.

Signing a free agent is always a bit of a gamble: Teams know what their past looks like, but it can be hard to predict how they'll operate in a new environment.

It takes a lot to be named the MVP. Everything has to work out perfectly, from individual achievements to team success.

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