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

In a league where so many players come and go, it can be fun to revisit just how far some of the NBA's best players have come.

The NBA playoffs is the stage for the league's stars to shine the brightest.

It's also a reminder of just how far many of these stars have come since their rookie days.

It's easy to forget we've now been watching LeBron James dominate the playoffs for 14 years, or that Stephen Curry was an undersized, baby-faced guard before he evolved into the face of the Warriors. It's easy to forget that James Harden wasn't always so... beard-y.

Take a look at photos of the NBA's biggest stars when their careers began and today.

LeBron James in 2004 (19).

James today (33).

James Harden in 2009 (20).

Harden today (28).

Kevin Love in 2008 (20).

Love today (29).

Stephen Curry in 2009 (21).

Curry today (30).

Kevin Durant in 2007 (19).

Durant today (29).

Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013 (19).

Antetokounmpo today (23).

Anthony Davis in 2012 (19).

Davis today (25).

Manu Ginobili in 2002 (25).

Ginobili today (40).

Tony Parker in 2002 (19).

Parker today (35).

Russell Westbrook in 2008 (20).

Westbrook today (29).

Klay Thompson in 2011 (21).

Thompson today (28).

Carmelo Anthony in 2003 (19).

Anthony today (33).

Dwyane Wade in 2003 (22).

Wade today (36).

Paul George in 2010 (20).

George today (27).

Draymond Green in 2012 (22).

Green today (28).

Chris Paul in 2006 (20).

Paul today (32).

Jimmy Butler in 2011 (22).

Butler today (28).

DeMar DeRozan in 2009 (20).

DeRozan today (28).

Ricky Rubio in 2009 (18).

Rubio today (27)

Kyle Lowry in 2006 (20).

Lowry today (32).

John Wall in 2010 (19).

Wall today (27).

Al Horford in 2007 (21).

Horford today (31).

Victor Oladipo in 2013 (21).

Oladipo today (25).

LaMarcus Aldridge in 2006 (21).

Aldridge today (32).

J.J. Redick in 2006 (22).

Redick today (33).

Damian Lillard in 2012 (22).

Lillard today (27).

Joel Embiid in 2014 (20).

Embiid today (24).

J.R. Smith in 2005 (19)

J.R. Smith today (32).

Kyrie Irving in 2011 (19).

Irving today (26).

Now, check out who was playing alongside Michael Jordan in his final NBA game...

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The other big-name players from Michael Jordan's final NBA game >