Throughout history, every sport has had its generation of superstars that become the de facto face of the league or overall sport that they play. Sometimes, that concept is shared between a number of athletes. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could claim to be the faces of global soccer across the 21st century. Basketball, of course, is no different. From time to time, there is a standout player who dominates their entire generation. Few would say that Michael Jordan, for instance, was not the face of the 1990s NBA.
But what about today? It is not always an easy question to answer, not least because being the face of something does not always mean you are the best, or at least the best in this moment. A good example is LeBron James. King James is probably the most widely recognized NBA player globally, one who transcends his sport. Yet, he is getting on a bit in age – James will turn 41 on December 30 – and he would be the first to admit that he is not the force of old. He has still got plenty to give, however, but soon he will give up the mantle as the face of his sport.
New players coming to the fore
Indeed, it is interesting to note that there is a lot of talk in the NBA right now of the next generation of stars coming through, those who will replace the likes of Steph Curry and Kevin Durant as the key players of their generation. Many of those have made fast starts in this race to become the leaders in the league, and many would see themselves as ready to take the mantle as the face of the NBA.
A good place to start would be with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The man known as SGA is the standout player on the NBA’s best team. He won the MVP award last term, and he is this season’s NBA MVP odds betting favorite, albeit there is a long way to go before the awards start getting handed out. Still, SGA is on the trajectory to become a generational great. He would be the first choice for many to be the next face of the league.
Edwards has a lot of backers
Of course, SGA might not have it all his own way. There is a lot of buzz swirling around Anthony Edwards. The Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard has just turned 24, but he is playing like a veteran. What’s more, there is a sense among many that he has one of the highest ceilings. He is probably a few years away from his peak, something that should buoy Wolves fans and worry rivals.
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Some might disagree with those assertions, though, opting instead for one of the league’s two Serbian stars – Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic – as the new face of the league globally. Certainly, Serbian basketball fans will see it that way as their compatriots rip it up in a league that used to be dominated by Americans solely.
And there is also the case of Victor Wembanyama, the young French star who many believe has the talent to be the best player of the 21st century. He really is that good. “Wemby” has taken the NBA by storm in his two- and a-bit seasons, and he has the kind of profile that could make him a global star.
There are, of course, others who may lay claim to being the next face of the NBA, and perhaps there are young players hooping in colleges and high schools across the globe who we have yet to see in action. We might go through a period, as we did in the early 2000s, where the status of the face is shared. But then again, maybe it’s a singular athlete who takes the NBA by storm in the coming years.