Throughout All-Star weekend, one matter stood out to me greater than the remaining. “Who will the following face of the NBA be?”. This primarily means, which participant will drive the rankings, be the ambassador, and extra importantly the voice of the NBA.
LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant are thought-about the “faces of the NBA,” by many. None of them has performed in a finals sport since 2022. None of them gained an MVP award since 2016.
Their greatest and brightest second got here within the 2024 Paris Olympics, the place every performed a key function in serving to the US seize the gold medal.
The USA Olympic workforce had two gamers beneath the age of 25. Anthony Edwards was 22 and performed an off-the-bench scorer function and is a candidate to be the following face. Tyrese Haliburton was 24, didn’t play in Paris, didn’t make the All-Star workforce this yr, and 18 days in the past scored 0 factors on 3 shot makes an attempt in 25 minutes towards the Portland Path Blazers. The Blazers are at the moment thirteenth within the West. Halliburton isn’t a candidate to be the following face of the NBA.
There are necessities to turn into the face of the NBA. It’s worthwhile to win particular person and workforce awards and have a likable persona. These aren’t the “solely,” necessities, however these are the naked minimal.
So who would be the subsequent face of the NBA?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA)
“My entire life is constant,” SGA mentioned in a post-game interview final season. It’s true. SGA averaged 30 factors per sport final season. In additional than half of the video games he performed he hit 30-39 factors.
This season SGA is the present frontrunner for MVP. SGA isn’t the most effective participant within the NBA, that may belong to Nikola Jokic. Nonetheless, the MVP award is extra a mirrored image of narrative combined with workforce success.
This season SGA is as much as 32 factors per sport. That is regardless of the emergence of different scorers on the Thunder reminiscent of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
SGA is quietly assured in postgame interviews. His persona isn’t a giant draw, nevertheless it isn’t a deterrent both.
The Thunder are first within the West and are one of many favorites to win all of it. If SGA wins MVP and has severe moments throughout finals run or finals victory, he instantly turns into the favourite for the following face of the NBA.
There is only one factor that SGA lacks, fashion of play. He’s environment friendly however hardly ever dunks the ball. At occasions it will possibly seem like he’s simply making an attempt to get fouled. This gained’t hinder his viability to be the face of the NBA if he continues to make deep playoff runs and wins titles.
Anthony Edwards (Ant)
Anthony Edwards has the persona to be in each TV industrial, sit down with any late-night host, and make Obama snigger. Edwards is without doubt one of the most assured human beings ever to exist. He additionally shoots 40% from three and has been in comparison with Michael Jordan.
Ant is thrilling to observe when he’s on. He flies the air with grace and management, thus the MJ comparisons. When he needs to be (Paris Olympics) he could be a top-5 on-ball defender. Nonetheless, Edwards isn’t all the time dedicated on the defensive finish night-to-night.
The Timberwolves made a dumb commerce final offseason. It resulted in them going from third within the West to at the moment seventh. The Wolves aren’t thought-about contenders this yr, however with new house owners who will spend more cash than the final.
Edwards doesn’t flip 24 till August. He’s an elite competitor and is discovering his footing as a frontrunner this season. Regardless of his current feedback about not eager to be the face of the NBA, I don’t assume you select to be it, it chooses you. Type of just like the sorting hat in “Harry Potter”.
Victor Wembenyama (Wemby)
Up till yesterday, Wemby was on the trajectory that many anticipated. He was going to win defensive participant of the yr, he would possibly’ve snuck into the play-in in his second yr and already has a sidekick.
Nonetheless, life has a tousled approach of stopping good folks from doing nice issues. Wemby was identified with a blood clot in his proper shoulder and can miss the remainder of the season. Basketball isn’t vital proper now for him, and getting wholesome is.
Brandon Ingram of the Raptors had the identical harm and got here again to be an All-Star. The long-term results of this are scary for Wemby, and he has lots of nerves about what his profession would possibly or won’t be.
Hopefully, it is a one-time incident, as a result of whether it is, he’ll destroy planets. I imply the NBA. Wemby, like Ant, has the drive of some younger athletes. Wemby is the one basketball participant within the NBA who’s enjoyable to observe on offense and protection.
If he stays wholesome, then the NBA is his, and all that’s in it. Wemby will win a number of MVPs and championships, and star in a lot of commercials.
Who Will Be The Subsequent Face of The NBA
It’s going to be Anthony Edwards. American stars have all the time resonated with the general public greater than worldwide gamers. Edwards was 22 and getting MJ comparisons. This was resulting from his fashion of play and the way he dunks on defenders.
The Timberwolves are seventh within the West proper now however nonetheless have a stable sufficient workforce and an awesome coach to make a run.
If the Wolves construct accurately round Ant, then he’ll take full benefit of the stardom that comes with successful titles.
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Featured Picture: David L. Nemec/NBAE through Getty Photographs