Remember when Michael Jordan was the clear-cut face of the NBA? It took some time, but the torch was passed on. Players like Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant shared the responsibility of moving the league and the game forward. More recently, others have stepped up, but there have been two main staples who most would consider the quote-unquote face of the league.
Is this an issue that the higher-ups need to solve soon?
The Present NBA Issue
Not all data is the same and not all factors are equal, but a recently revealed set of numbers does offer some insight into something important. The most-viewed players on social media were LeBron James and Steph Curry. With over 1.78 billion impressions, they were far and away the most popular in terms of online engagement. Victor Wembanyama was third. However, what would normally be a respectable 1.3 billion, he’s falling a couple hundred million short of the two front runners.
This brings up an interesting point: there is concern and there are legitimate questions about what happens if and when James and Curry retire from the NBA. Kidding aside, of course, the use of the word “if” here is only referring to how well James has defied Father Time up until now. But already, we are starting to see a chink in the armor of Curry and James in their increased and more noticeable injuries.
Lack of Contingency Plan From The NBA
It does not look like the NBA is ready for either of the top two social media getters to step away from the game. This can be seen in how often the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are on Prime Time television and how talk shows often lead with either of those two with their programming. It’s understandable why this is the case.
Like them, hate them, view them as overrated, or view them as the greatest. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone tunes in to virtually anything that they do. However, the league has done a poor job of positioning others to be next in line, despite there being plenty of great candidates to be the next faces of the league.
Others The NBA Should Consider
Wembanyama is an obvious choice to be the next bright upcoming star. In every interview, he holds himself and conducts himself well. Additionally, he provides electrifying highlights and does things that no one else can do. This is something of a must if you’re going to be the face of the league. There’s also someone like Luka Doncic, a capable scorer and player who can excite and dazzle, unlike most players who have ever played the game.
Part of this is showing one big issue, though. Or at least, it’s an issue for some that maybe shouldn’t be. The game of basketball is becoming more global, and it appears that the next potential faces of the league are no longer going to be homegrown native US players. The unwillingness to pivot toward some of the exciting international players may be part of what’s holding back the NBA—maybe not now but certainly for the foreseeable future.
About the Author
Gabriel is a lifelong sports fan. Pick a sport, and he’ll enjoy talking about it with you! From football to soccer, combat sports, and volleyball! You can follow Gabriel on Twitter @BigTenGabriel to enjoy all of his great content. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we do several shows daily.
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