Victor Wembanyama addressed the growing talk about becoming the face of the NBA, saying that role cannot be forced or manufactured. The Spurs star believes the league's next leader will emerge naturally through performance and winning.
The NBA face of the league debate has been a hot topic all season. Many fans and analysts are asking who will take over as the next global star.
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When asked about becoming a so-called face of the league, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama did not rush to claim the spotlight.
"I see what you're trying to make me say," he said in an All-Star post-game interview. "But I feel like it's something that's got to be natural. Social media, the NBA can promote whoever they want, but at the end of the day, it's going to be the best players — and who the people ask for."
"Being the face of the league isn't something that can be manufactured — maybe only to some extent. It's only going to be the best players. So being the face of the league would just be the byproduct of their basketball level."
Right now, Wembanyama is backing up his words with strong numbers. He is averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.
He is shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three-point range, showing his ability to stretch the floor while protecting the rim on the other end.
Wembanyama has been dominant on both sides of the ball. He controls the paint with his rim protection, runs the floor in transition, and can create his own shot in half-court sets. His inside-outside game makes him one of the toughest matchups in the league.
More importantly, the Spurs are winning. With a 38-16 record, they sit second in the loaded Western Conference.
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