When LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, there were already high expectations for the incoming rookie. He would go on to become a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP, 22-time All-Star selection, and the league's all-time points leader.
Due to his mainstream popularity and success, James is widely considered to be the face of the NBA. With the 41-year-old forward nearing the end of his professional basketball career, it will soon be time for another superstar to step into the role.
In a recent episode of No Fouls Given, Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce suggested that San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama may be the next face of the league.
"You know how we’re trying to force it on guys now, where I think it's really something that's organically given, and we saw it coming. Like when LeBron was coming to them, the buildup of him coming to the league was to be the face… And we are saying that about Wemby. We anticipated his arrival two years before he got here, right? So that's the common denominator when we talk about who the face is going to be."
Prior to the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama was being dubbed a generational talent by various analysts. After being selected by the Spurs with the No. 1 pick, the French native quickly emerged into one of the top talents in the league.
In his rookie season, Wembanyama led the NBA in blocks, won Rookie of the Year, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He then won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics as a member of the France men's national basketball team.
In his third season, Wembanyama is averaging 24.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. The 22-year-old is ranked fifth on the latest edition of the NBA's MVP Ladder.
Similar to James, Wembanyama continues to live up to the hype built around him. With the Spurs positioned second in the Western Conference standings, Wembanyama is likely to make his playoff debut later this season.
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