Photos of what the stars of the NBA playoffs looked like when their careers started

James Harden as a rookie in 2009.David Zalubowski/AP

The NBA playoffs have already given us some classic games and performances from some of the league’s biggest stars.

This year’s playoffs have been interesting in that it features some of the usual cast of characters — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, etc. — but they have also showcased some young, rising stars like Kawhi Leonard, Isaiah Thomas, and Gordon Hayward.

In a league where so many players come and go, it can be fun to revisit just how far some of the league’s best players have come, both in appearance and skill set.

Take a look at how different some of the biggest stars remaining in the playoffs look today vs. their rookie years.