In the 17th season after he began playing NBA basketball, Michael Jordan was three years into his second retirement; he'd suit up for two more unremarkable, cringeworthy years with the Washington Wizards. In the 17th season after he began playing NBA basketball, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a middling record and a first-round playoff loss, by sweep, to the San Antonio Spurs. In the 17th season after they began playing pro basketball, Bill Russell had been retired for four years, Larry Bird also for four years, and Julius Erving for one.