Nothing can prepare you for the end, but some of the NBA's top stars are nearing the end of their playing careers, and the opportunities to witness them in action are dwindling.
Here are three NBA stars whose careers are coming to an end.
Kobe Bryant
The NBA's No. 3 all-time scorer, Bryant was an integral part of five championship runs with the Los Angeles Lakers, earning two Finals MVP awards. He's also won a Slam Dunk contest, two scoring titles, an MVP award, and been named to 17 All-Star teams.
There's nothing Kobe can do the rest of this season to hurt his legacy as one of the NBA's all-time greatest scorers, but there have been moments that have been difficult to watch.
Bryant missed 123 of 164 games in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and has already missed three of 11 games this season, shooting 33.6 percent from the field and 23.3 percent from beyond the arc when he has been in action.
Tim Duncan
Few, if any, can hold a candle to Duncan's accomplishments over the last 20 years, but fewer still have been able to put together the same kind of career while receiving so little fanfare.
There was never anything flashy about his style of play, but the man they call "The Big Fundamental" was a quietly dominant force on five title teams with the San Antonio Spurs, helping bring the franchise back to relevance following his No. 1 overall selection in the 1997 draft.
While he remains an elite frontcourt option, Duncan will turn 40 during the postseason, and the Spurs have already brought in their next frontcourt ace in LaMarcus Aldridge. While the franchise would surely like to keep him on the court as long as possible, it feels as if we're counting down the days until his inevitable ride off into the sunset.
Kevin Garnett
Garnett gave the best years of his career to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they were never able to reward him with a supporting cast talented enough to achieve the ultimate prize.
No. 5 had to leave town to win his championship, but it's certainly good to see him back where it all began as his playing career winds down.
His best contributions to the Timberwolves in his second go-around with the franchise have been as a mentor to the team's young core - particularly No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. Garnett will turn 40 before the start of next season. When he does hang them up, he'll go out as one of the NBA's all-time greatest power forwards.
