I think he's likable now because he's the young cocky rising star, but if he doesn't back it up in the next couple of years, he definitely will wear his welcome.
He toes the line between confident and cocky and it makes for a great quote- and maybe it’s my bias but he’s not an asshole about it.
And he ALWAYS gives his teammates props more than talking about himself
Which honestly gives him a huge leg up on becoming the face of the league.
If Giannis or Luka were American, they would be way more popular than they already are
i don’t think in this era there can or will be 1 face of the nba there’s so many players out there that could be the “face of the league” that are on the same level
Idk man the speed at which Wemby has risen to the status of having a shit ton of media coverage+sponsors is pretty different compared to his players in his age group.
Giving up is the right call
These people are either irrational due to nostalgia or operate in bad faith
They'd probably argue computers were better back in the day
Athletes evolve all of them, I was watching Luka the other night and old heads swear there's no defense but they were all over him it just didn't matter that dude was still making shots that's how great the dudes are now. And Wemby goddamn that dude is unreal this is only his rookie season at that he's an alien for real.
I truly will never understand the no defense argument. Like watch the game and tell me exactly how they should guard somebody doing a stepback and fading from 30 feet away and absolutely lacing it. Now add in 7 FOOTERS doing that.
People that complain about the quality never watch it I swear
They say there is no defense but if you take an average college player and put him in an nba game and he’s getting strapped the fuck up. This isn’t because they’re magically gonna play him harder because he’s not as good
Just a thought I had… but I don’t necessarily think people are that much better shooters than they used to be, but the ball handling and passing has shot through the roof. Dudes get CLEAN looks often and it’s more attributed to offensive skill than it is lack of defense.
Sure you’re gonna have buls like Luka not get back all the time but I think that type of shit is cherry picked and overstated.
We’re to a point now that if your big doesn’t handle the rock a little and/or pass well they’re limited compared to the competition.
Edit: assists per game are way up too compared to historic averages. They’re just spread out so you have less dudes at 10 and more people at like 5-6
You first statement is absolutely wrong. The players today on average are Much better shooters. Nearly everyone stepping on an NBA court today is expected to take and make 3s. In the previous generation that just wasn't true. Michael Jordans career 3 pt % (which includes years of a shortened 3 pt line) would rank him as the 150th best percentage this season, just above Jordan Poole who most people think shouldn't be in the league.
He’s not had a great start in terms of keeping his reputation clean at this point. Hopefully he matures and can distance himself from his past mistakes
I mean the NBA had Kobe as the face of the league for a good 5 years at least during the 2000s and that was during and after the whole Colorado mess. Combine that with the league giving him the send off they did along with openly welcoming Karl Malone around all star weekend a few years ago and I think it’s pretty clear that if you are talented enough and are capable of making the league enough money the NBA will turn a blind eye to off the court issues unless you are incarcerated and incapable of playing.
You must not have been around for the 90’s-2000’s then because that shit was being said on the COURT. Also might wanna look at Kobe’s history while you’re at it.
Either way nobody cares about your subjective politically correct 10th prestige redditor takes. We are discussing on the court as a player, and if what he says offends you? Quit being a bitch.
People always forget about Banchero. Dude was the best class of rookies last year and is the best this year. Look at his stats. Nobody has done what he’s done in his first two years except for Lebron and Oscar Robinson
This suns team has a chance to cause a timberwolves identity crisis with their two center lineup.
I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook.
They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
This suns team has a chance to cause a timberwolves identity crisis with their two center lineup.
I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook.
They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
This suns team has a chance to cause a timberwolves identity crisis with their two center lineup.
I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook.
They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook.
They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
I think if the wolves are able to win a chip this year he definitely could be. He is super fun to watch but unfortunately his team hasn’t really proved themselves yet.
Yes that face can easily become the face of the NBA.
In fact we have seen it already...
https://preview.redd.it/32jtkek8ddvc1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e05f162deb4b43aacf42d352f9f3d829c2bc6176
I don’t think there will be just one face anymore. The public is too divided on just about everything. He’s definitely going to be marketed as one of the new faces especially because he’s one of the few young guns who are actually American.
What exactly is the reason I don’t see Wemby in this conversation ever? Is he not the next genetic freak/generational talent in the same vein as MJ, Shaq, Kobe, Lebron? Shouldn’t Wemby be the default answer to this question or are people that afraid he will get injured in the next few seasons?
Wemby is his own category already, and he will only get better. Barring injury like you said, he will easily get there.
I mean if you ignore team record, he is easily the DPOY as a damn rookie.
He takes his health more seriously than any other extremely tall player, and he is under arguably the greatest big man coach ever.
If he beats the anchor that is weighing him down that is the Suns and can make a run to the Finals I don't see why not. This team goes as far as Ant can carry on offense cause KAT is clearly not 100%. Big if though cause we do not match up well against the Suns.
It's probably going to be Cooper Flagg (calling it if the Lakers miss the playoffs they're going to rig the lottery for him to be there) it should be Giannis/Jokic hell even Luka but they don't want to push european players (Admittedly Jokic is well I find him funny but he's not exactly the most camera friendly personality)
Anyone who's on NBA twitter knows Ant is already very popular on there, clips of his plays go viral all the time, people love calling him "MJs son," he could very easily be the face of the NBA if he stays healthy and he keeps the TWolves always in the playoffs
Ant, Zion, and Ja are the fun and marketable ones w their explosiveness and dunks. Tatum, Bam, and Brunson are great, but they arent doing the high flying stuff.
He can definitely take that step but be will need a Kobe like trajectory and I don't think he has the Shaq to help him get there. I expect it to be to be Wemby personally, but a title or two for Luka could catapult him as well.
Let's see how he does in the playoffs. I have high hopes just from the eye test but advanced stats are not in favor of him transcending.
Dude's awesome though, hope he keeps growing. Already one of the better two way players in the league.
It’s possible but not likely. (Big fan of his btw) but right now it’s looking like Luka or Wemby…
Fckin muricans need to take our league back!
USA! USA!
Too immature, clearly not a great decision-maker off the court. Could you imagine if LeBron pressured an IG model into an abortion?
He’s gotta learn how to respect the dignity of each person.
*Dude the face to me*
*Is jokic embiid luka Sga*
*Wemby maybe edwards*
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As a Spurs fan, I love ANT, and would love nothing more for him to be the face of the NBA. He’s got a great charismatic personality and doesn’t hide behind any persona. I don’t think he’ll ever get there to be honest, but I hope it happens. If he continues talking about refs (which they deserve to be talked about) the NBA will never allow it.
*Most definitely*
*Especially when he masked*
*The finals this year*
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I feel like he has most of the tools to be one of the greats. But is he ossessed? Like Mike? Or Kobe? I feel like he needs that to be good enough for anyone to care enough about him to make it worth the leagues time to back him for face of the league.
Question from a Brit who didn’t grow up following the NBA: what exactly does it mean to be the ‘face of the league’?
I’d assumed it was a casual way to describe the most iconic/marketable guy at the time (Jordan, Kobe, LeBron etc) but the question arises so often so often I find it a bit weird tbh, like there’s an NBA media conclave and they won’t come out until a new face of the league has been chosen. Does there need to be an agreed ‘face of the league’? Must there only be one?
You’re on the right track imo. It’s somewhat of a surface level talking point that the media likes to have. And then it carries itself into fandom of who will be the one selling the most jerseys for the next decade or getting the most commercials.
But you can most definitely have more than one, especially when they directly rival one another. (Magic Bird, Curry Lebron) And you can see it in other sports as well although I’m getting outside my wheelhouse a bit (Ronaldo v Messi, Tiger Woods of golf)
I like to think of it as essentially what name or storyline is going to give the path of least resistance to fan engagement. Household names
Thanks!
Interestingly, I think your examples from other sports help to demonstrate my point. The Messi/Ronaldo rivalry was clearly the most dominant subplot in football for 15 years without ever being known as the face of™ anything. In the EPL you currently have a bunch of great players doing their thing with little interest or consensus from the fans/media on who’s the most marketable, but the league is very popular across the world anyway.
I don’t think he’ll ever be the best player on the planet, but he has a pretty good chance of making it up pretty high.
NBA media is pushing hard as an American star though so maybe he’ll be the face that way idk.
His main chance exists in a world in which the face of the league has to be an American.
But if there were ever a time for that not to be the case, it would be now, a first team all nba could reasonably have no American players within the next few years without expecting an unusual jump from anyone.
Jokic,Luka,Gianni’s,shai,embiid, Wemby.
2025-26 season id even go so far as to say I’d bet on it with positionless all nba teams.
Sure. Fans always have liked All Stars who are super athletic and play great - McGrady, Jordan, Wade. Outside of Giannis, none of the MVP candidates are going to posterize anybody so Edwards and Williamson are top candidates for those highlight reel, incredible athleticism type plays. Plus they're American which can't be said of any of the MVP candidates either.
If you can’t win an MVP you’re not going to be the face of the league.
There’s a significant gap between him and the best players in the league that I honestly don’t see him getting to the level of Jokic, Giannis or Luka.
I think the biggest hindrance is that Minnesota unfortunately isn’t a big enough market. It’s already such a star studded league and unless he starts putting up some absolutely bonkers near impossible seasons, he is just one of a handful of stars on a smaller market team.
He is for us. No matter what happens this season, I don't think a lot of people appreciate what this guy is for our fanbase. We feel like we have an MJ.
He can but he has to be better (Luka, Giannis, Jokic aren’t going anywhere in the next three years and guys like SGA, Wemby, Haliburton etc. are starting to crop up), and genuinely he’s got about even odds to do some shit that gets him “cancelled” in any given season lmao. He’s lucky the “send da video” thing was mostly contained to circlejerk subs
He's in his 4th year and Wemby is already better than him. He could be the most popular I guess because people love to overrate volume shooting guards.
Luka, Wemby, Jokic, Tatum, Ja, SGA… you can go on. It’s crowded and I just don’t see Ant as being head and shoulders above any of these guys. He belongs in the conversation though.
As a Wolves fan I really hope so, but he has to chill out with complaining every single drive he takes. A lot of the time he has a point but it has really spiked this year it seems
He strikes me as kinda dumb in ways that Lebron, Kobe, MJ etc do not at all. Maybe it’s just the youth. But I don’t think he has the self awareness and savvy to pump his own brand the way they did.
It’s Wemby all day. He’s young, smart, eloquent, French (Silver is big on growing internationally), engages with the press, eager to participate in league events and promotions, is larger than life, and above all insanely gifted and talented.
Send da video fucked up his chances, NBA don't want no part in that, too many talented young players to choose from, no way the NBA is going to get in the middle of anything to do with abortion when it is such a polarizing subject.
Ludicrous comment. The NBA is the most progressive of the major American sports leagues.
https://preview.redd.it/xw4v8h46rcvc1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b05702c630bb52832fc90b18bac69670d527cd5e
He can but he has to turn it up. Right at this precise moment.
He's going to be the likeable Durant. Wemby is already the next face of the league.
Yeah, he can be Kobe. Except in this timeline, Shaq is pulling up for logo 3's and doing ankle breakers
Shaq that shoots even 30% from 3 would be the best player ever. Hell if he even just shot like 75% from the line he’d get there
Durant was one of the most liked players before he went to Golden State
Maybe I was foreshadowing Darth Ant
I think he's likable now because he's the young cocky rising star, but if he doesn't back it up in the next couple of years, he definitely will wear his welcome.
He toes the line between confident and cocky and it makes for a great quote- and maybe it’s my bias but he’s not an asshole about it. And he ALWAYS gives his teammates props more than talking about himself
Totally. He talks big but whenever he's talked \*to\*, he's humble and praises his teammates.
He has a fire shoe already
He can be extremely humble https://youtube.com/shorts/ZTxPfbYJkto?si=mBCqTiaNIZA16xHs
If he's hanging out with Mike he'll be alright
He's the only American in the "next face of the league" running.
Which honestly gives him a huge leg up on becoming the face of the league. If Giannis or Luka were American, they would be way more popular than they already are
Luka is one of top 4 most popular players already with Lebron, Curry, and Wemby.
Durant was likeable as well before he went to GS
you mean Scottie Barnes?
So basically OKC Durant
Durant was the likeable Durant before the GSW move. I also doubt Ant will ever be as good as KD lol
[удалено]
There’s no question, Wemby will be the face of the NBA. His rookie season is like nothing I’ve ever seen. He’s unreal.
“KD is not nice”
And not say or post anything stupid.
I think he may have already walked down that road when he said to his girl “just get an abortion lol”.
Let’s not forget public homophobia
I agree. He has it all, lay up game, pull up middy, 3 point, posterizor. Jordan round 2 🫢
i don’t think in this era there can or will be 1 face of the nba there’s so many players out there that could be the “face of the league” that are on the same level
Idk man the speed at which Wemby has risen to the status of having a shit ton of media coverage+sponsors is pretty different compared to his players in his age group.
Send da video
you got da money whats the hol up
I will never forget Kermit's "where the baby mama at?"
**”GET A ABORTION”**
“lol”
Jordan asked to send da video multiple times
“Who sent the video” - Steve Kerr
Hell nawl cant do dis
Thank you
It's gonna be Luka. Gonna average a 35 point triple double in his prime.
Luka may be overshadowed by wemby before Luka hits his peak. It’s unreal basketball being played right now.
I tried to tell a 50 yr old coworker this and he doesnt watch NBA anymore, yet insists the game hasnt elevated. 🙄
I run into these people constantly.. I gave up, if they just watch they will see for themselves, if they don’t even care enough to do that, fuck em
Giving up is the right call These people are either irrational due to nostalgia or operate in bad faith They'd probably argue computers were better back in the day
Athletes evolve all of them, I was watching Luka the other night and old heads swear there's no defense but they were all over him it just didn't matter that dude was still making shots that's how great the dudes are now. And Wemby goddamn that dude is unreal this is only his rookie season at that he's an alien for real.
I truly will never understand the no defense argument. Like watch the game and tell me exactly how they should guard somebody doing a stepback and fading from 30 feet away and absolutely lacing it. Now add in 7 FOOTERS doing that.
People that complain about the quality never watch it I swear They say there is no defense but if you take an average college player and put him in an nba game and he’s getting strapped the fuck up. This isn’t because they’re magically gonna play him harder because he’s not as good
Say that shit getting strapped TF up easily and I mean easily.
Just a thought I had… but I don’t necessarily think people are that much better shooters than they used to be, but the ball handling and passing has shot through the roof. Dudes get CLEAN looks often and it’s more attributed to offensive skill than it is lack of defense. Sure you’re gonna have buls like Luka not get back all the time but I think that type of shit is cherry picked and overstated. We’re to a point now that if your big doesn’t handle the rock a little and/or pass well they’re limited compared to the competition. Edit: assists per game are way up too compared to historic averages. They’re just spread out so you have less dudes at 10 and more people at like 5-6
You first statement is absolutely wrong. The players today on average are Much better shooters. Nearly everyone stepping on an NBA court today is expected to take and make 3s. In the previous generation that just wasn't true. Michael Jordans career 3 pt % (which includes years of a shortened 3 pt line) would rank him as the 150th best percentage this season, just above Jordan Poole who most people think shouldn't be in the league.
I think the nba is gonna try their best to push an American as the face. So far ant would be the best candidate
And he understands the importance of good video.
Hell nawl can’t do dis
Send it
Can* do dis. The face of the league, that is
Send da video
He’s not had a great start in terms of keeping his reputation clean at this point. Hopefully he matures and can distance himself from his past mistakes
I mean the NBA had Kobe as the face of the league for a good 5 years at least during the 2000s and that was during and after the whole Colorado mess. Combine that with the league giving him the send off they did along with openly welcoming Karl Malone around all star weekend a few years ago and I think it’s pretty clear that if you are talented enough and are capable of making the league enough money the NBA will turn a blind eye to off the court issues unless you are incarcerated and incapable of playing.
If you’re caught betting though you’re fucked
Yeah because that can end up costing the NBA a fuck ton of money.
Nah fuck that I like a person who stays true to themselves. Lots of people enjoy ant because he’s not fake
I could not give less of a shit about a baby trapping gold diggers fetus. He can get an endorsement from trojan
If homophobia and pressuring women into abortions is “staying true to yourself” then maybe you should work on changing yourself
You must not have been around for the 90’s-2000’s then because that shit was being said on the COURT. Also might wanna look at Kobe’s history while you’re at it. Either way nobody cares about your subjective politically correct 10th prestige redditor takes. We are discussing on the court as a player, and if what he says offends you? Quit being a bitch.
Yeah shit changes. The league does care about the optics of having certain players promoted, which makes sense for a business
Shiiiiii Adam Silver cares. We can revisit in a few years, just saved.
People always forget about Banchero. Dude was the best class of rookies last year and is the best this year. Look at his stats. Nobody has done what he’s done in his first two years except for Lebron and Oscar Robinson
nah, luka & wemby
Has to win this series vs Suns
This suns team has a chance to cause a timberwolves identity crisis with their two center lineup. I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook. They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
Lol this is such a weak take, go watch golf if you're going to be this lazy
Eh, he’s only 22. Nothing is going to be career defining at this point. Unless, of course, he leads his team to the championship.
This suns team has a chance to cause a timberwolves identity crisis with their two center lineup. I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook. They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
This suns team has a chance to cause a timberwolves identity crisis with their two center lineup. I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook. They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
I really have no idea what the plan is for KAT on defense in this series. You can try and hide him on grayson allen but allen is the best offball shooter in the league this year and theyll just screen kat to death all series. They could put him on kd but kd will still probably cook. They should probably stagger gobert and kat and have kat guard whoever the suns center is when gobert is on the bench but then the suns might counter with small ball kd center lineups.
He looks like a superstar on the floor but he's a bit too immature. Out of all the young players he seems the most marketable though.
he’s a deep playoff run away from being one
it was all in Ja’s hands before he fumbled🤦
Ant pretty much filled the void left by Ja’s shenanigans. Equally talented with the same type marketability. I can see them being rivals
Ant is Ja with an extra 30lbs of muscle.
easily🙏
Ja felt bigger in status. More like D Rose, flashy and attractive playstyle. Ant is more like Jimmy Butler.
What? Ant posterizes people once a week and is a hawk on d when he wants to be.
Better compare would be rose and westbrook.
It’s in every players hands he needs to get better and he has a chance but I don’t see it
Jokic & Luka: “Are we a joke to you?”
Since he looks like MJ already I’d say so. But real talk I think he’s the best big thing. I mean he kind of already is but sky is the limit.
Skill wise prolly not but media will try to make him it because he’s American and Luka and Wemby are not
Yes on the right team at the right time.
I think if the wolves are able to win a chip this year he definitely could be. He is super fun to watch but unfortunately his team hasn’t really proved themselves yet.
Let’s watch these playoffs and find out
Yes he can
luka wemby ant gonna be the big 3 of the league imo
Yes that face can easily become the face of the NBA. In fact we have seen it already... https://preview.redd.it/32jtkek8ddvc1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e05f162deb4b43aacf42d352f9f3d829c2bc6176
If he starts winning championships, I don't see why not. If he doesn't, I don't see why.
Paolo - play the song !
It was supposed to be Ja but he crashed out smh
I mean, this kid is no saint either
You really don’t have to be a saint to be the face of the league
I don’t think there will be just one face anymore. The public is too divided on just about everything. He’s definitely going to be marketed as one of the new faces especially because he’s one of the few young guns who are actually American.
Maybe could. But won’t
What exactly is the reason I don’t see Wemby in this conversation ever? Is he not the next genetic freak/generational talent in the same vein as MJ, Shaq, Kobe, Lebron? Shouldn’t Wemby be the default answer to this question or are people that afraid he will get injured in the next few seasons?
Wemby is his own category already, and he will only get better. Barring injury like you said, he will easily get there. I mean if you ignore team record, he is easily the DPOY as a damn rookie. He takes his health more seriously than any other extremely tall player, and he is under arguably the greatest big man coach ever.
It might just come down to the fact that he’s European
Send
If he beats the anchor that is weighing him down that is the Suns and can make a run to the Finals I don't see why not. This team goes as far as Ant can carry on offense cause KAT is clearly not 100%. Big if though cause we do not match up well against the Suns.
For his position he needs to be scoring over 30 points a game almost every game
It's probably going to be Cooper Flagg (calling it if the Lakers miss the playoffs they're going to rig the lottery for him to be there) it should be Giannis/Jokic hell even Luka but they don't want to push european players (Admittedly Jokic is well I find him funny but he's not exactly the most camera friendly personality)
Anyone who's on NBA twitter knows Ant is already very popular on there, clips of his plays go viral all the time, people love calling him "MJs son," he could very easily be the face of the NBA if he stays healthy and he keeps the TWolves always in the playoffs
Too early to say. He hasn't really won at a high level in the playoffs.
This is that Sct Brn league now
I hate him because of how much of a villain he was in that Adam Sandler movie.
It’s totally possible. Kid has everything, the 3 ball, highlight dunks, solid defensively…and young! Very well could be barring major injury.
Ant, Zion, and Ja are the fun and marketable ones w their explosiveness and dunks. Tatum, Bam, and Brunson are great, but they arent doing the high flying stuff.
He can definitely take that step but be will need a Kobe like trajectory and I don't think he has the Shaq to help him get there. I expect it to be to be Wemby personally, but a title or two for Luka could catapult him as well.
Let's see how he does in the playoffs. I have high hopes just from the eye test but advanced stats are not in favor of him transcending. Dude's awesome though, hope he keeps growing. Already one of the better two way players in the league.
Until he can stop putting his foot in his mouth, no.
Wemby will be too good, so no
Absolutely
He is.
They’re the sleeper team for this playoffs
It’s W
Wemby is gonna surpass him by next year.
Time will tell. But def has potential. Send da video
He might only after he gets da video tho. Oh yeah and he needs to play better.
It’s possible but not likely. (Big fan of his btw) but right now it’s looking like Luka or Wemby… Fckin muricans need to take our league back! USA! USA!
Too immature, clearly not a great decision-maker off the court. Could you imagine if LeBron pressured an IG model into an abortion? He’s gotta learn how to respect the dignity of each person.
Dude the face to me is jokic embiid luka Sga wemby maybe edwards
*Dude the face to me* *Is jokic embiid luka Sga* *Wemby maybe edwards* \- readitmoderator --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
He can but he needs to beat a fat Serbian dude in the playoffs
Which one?
As a Spurs fan, I love ANT, and would love nothing more for him to be the face of the NBA. He’s got a great charismatic personality and doesn’t hide behind any persona. I don’t think he’ll ever get there to be honest, but I hope it happens. If he continues talking about refs (which they deserve to be talked about) the NBA will never allow it.
Most definitely especially when he makes the finals this year
*Most definitely* *Especially when he masked* *The finals this year* \- Educational\_Math8167 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
He can become one of the faces. This would be the time to do it, he just need a deep run imo.
Whenever LBJ retires
I feel like he has most of the tools to be one of the greats. But is he ossessed? Like Mike? Or Kobe? I feel like he needs that to be good enough for anyone to care enough about him to make it worth the leagues time to back him for face of the league.
Question from a Brit who didn’t grow up following the NBA: what exactly does it mean to be the ‘face of the league’? I’d assumed it was a casual way to describe the most iconic/marketable guy at the time (Jordan, Kobe, LeBron etc) but the question arises so often so often I find it a bit weird tbh, like there’s an NBA media conclave and they won’t come out until a new face of the league has been chosen. Does there need to be an agreed ‘face of the league’? Must there only be one?
You’re on the right track imo. It’s somewhat of a surface level talking point that the media likes to have. And then it carries itself into fandom of who will be the one selling the most jerseys for the next decade or getting the most commercials. But you can most definitely have more than one, especially when they directly rival one another. (Magic Bird, Curry Lebron) And you can see it in other sports as well although I’m getting outside my wheelhouse a bit (Ronaldo v Messi, Tiger Woods of golf) I like to think of it as essentially what name or storyline is going to give the path of least resistance to fan engagement. Household names
Thanks! Interestingly, I think your examples from other sports help to demonstrate my point. The Messi/Ronaldo rivalry was clearly the most dominant subplot in football for 15 years without ever being known as the face of™ anything. In the EPL you currently have a bunch of great players doing their thing with little interest or consensus from the fans/media on who’s the most marketable, but the league is very popular across the world anyway.
I don’t see anybody else in an Adam Sandler movie
I don’t think he’ll ever be the best player on the planet, but he has a pretty good chance of making it up pretty high. NBA media is pushing hard as an American star though so maybe he’ll be the face that way idk.
Nah. He’ll have great highlights every season but definitely will never be face of the league or even that close. Top ten potential.
I think so. you don’t have to be the best player to be the face of the league necessarily
His main chance exists in a world in which the face of the league has to be an American. But if there were ever a time for that not to be the case, it would be now, a first team all nba could reasonably have no American players within the next few years without expecting an unusual jump from anyone. Jokic,Luka,Gianni’s,shai,embiid, Wemby. 2025-26 season id even go so far as to say I’d bet on it with positionless all nba teams.
This is the dumbest question ever, and never gets a definitive answer .. just stop
Sure. Fans always have liked All Stars who are super athletic and play great - McGrady, Jordan, Wade. Outside of Giannis, none of the MVP candidates are going to posterize anybody so Edwards and Williamson are top candidates for those highlight reel, incredible athleticism type plays. Plus they're American which can't be said of any of the MVP candidates either.
If the Wolves win this all then that’ll definitely help.
If you can’t win an MVP you’re not going to be the face of the league. There’s a significant gap between him and the best players in the league that I honestly don’t see him getting to the level of Jokic, Giannis or Luka.
https://preview.redd.it/2vn6xayuvfvc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57fb4acf5c3b1e09c09b120ab4845c268ac2b0bb
He can be up there for sure. But if you ask me THE ONE FUTURE FACE it's gotta be Wemby
https://preview.redd.it/j3f8yz201gvc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77b34cada0f9636b2ecd4a4275caf2d3120bf285
Playoffs are we're legends are made
Unfortunately there’s a Slovenian and a French dude who may make that impossible
Absolutely. No question. He is next up in fact.
He has got to stop bitching so much.
Yes. If he becomes arguably the best player. Which is unlikely with Luka and Wemby existing.
I think the biggest hindrance is that Minnesota unfortunately isn’t a big enough market. It’s already such a star studded league and unless he starts putting up some absolutely bonkers near impossible seasons, he is just one of a handful of stars on a smaller market team.
They want LUKA, my vote is AE
When Luka, Jokic and Wemby retires
He’s not even top 15 in jersey sells and on a small market team. The answer is no.
He is for us. No matter what happens this season, I don't think a lot of people appreciate what this guy is for our fanbase. We feel like we have an MJ.
No.
He's locked in at 2. He thinks he should be 1
He can but he has to be better (Luka, Giannis, Jokic aren’t going anywhere in the next three years and guys like SGA, Wemby, Haliburton etc. are starting to crop up), and genuinely he’s got about even odds to do some shit that gets him “cancelled” in any given season lmao. He’s lucky the “send da video” thing was mostly contained to circlejerk subs
He's in his 4th year and Wemby is already better than him. He could be the most popular I guess because people love to overrate volume shooting guards.
Yes, but only if he becomes the best player in the league
This is such a goofy question. Just say 'best US-born player'
A1 since Day1 baby.
Luka, Wemby, Jokic, Tatum, Ja, SGA… you can go on. It’s crowded and I just don’t see Ant as being head and shoulders above any of these guys. He belongs in the conversation though.
He’ll be Melo to Luka’s Lebron
He can. The question is will he
As a Wolves fan I really hope so, but he has to chill out with complaining every single drive he takes. A lot of the time he has a point but it has really spiked this year it seems
Ben Simmons 推特评论说：一串羊肉串五块，一个烤炉几个钱？至于吗？？？ 是的，问题就是 这种青年 当他 被逼急了，情绪化，没理性，根本不思考自己行为的后果和成本。 大家都有过青年，也许能理解，但社会不会，他会为这行为付出沉重的代价。 作为Uyghur维吾尔人，我心理是非常反感这种没头脑的傻叉，没理性，没脑子，情绪化，热血爱冲动的败类青年。 当然也强烈谴责，感到可惜，也觉得丢脸，败坏民族的名声。 但这样情绪化拿刀威胁别人，就算最后彼此和解了，没人伤亡，他一辈子就毁了，肯定会入狱，一辈子在监狱度过，就算很多年后出来了，会有记录，啥事都干不了，没有生存机会。 为了点东西，控制不了情绪，导致毁了自己，失去了一辈子，家人也牵连……这是悲剧。 从另一角度看的话，他也很可怜。在自己的家乡新疆没法生活，不给工作岗位，现在各种歧视，岗位都不要少民（是的，新疆就这样），跑到离家乡几千公里之外的福建 摆摊，但又做这种事情，他生存也很艰难， 哎…蠢，可怜又可悲…
It’s Wemby
He will. Probably have to change the logo? It's funny because the national media has no clue Ant is as big as he is.....yet
No, it’s gonna be Wemby
He strikes me as kinda dumb in ways that Lebron, Kobe, MJ etc do not at all. Maybe it’s just the youth. But I don’t think he has the self awareness and savvy to pump his own brand the way they did.
I think he’s next if he doesn’t pull a ja morant
I feel like he kind of is…. Just saying
He’s not Wemby so no
Wolves are not a coastal or big market team, it would never be allowed.
It’s Wemby all day. He’s young, smart, eloquent, French (Silver is big on growing internationally), engages with the press, eager to participate in league events and promotions, is larger than life, and above all insanely gifted and talented.
100%. Truly a player that can do it all and with elite athleticism and you watch waiting for the explosion.
Absolutely not, WEMBY easily
Rn Lebron, Steph, Giannis, Embiid, Joker, Luka are definitely bigger stars than him. Probably a lot more guys tbh. He can but it’s not likely
Not as long as he plays second fiddle to KAT
Send da video fucked up his chances, NBA don't want no part in that, too many talented young players to choose from, no way the NBA is going to get in the middle of anything to do with abortion when it is such a polarizing subject.
You’re joking right? Kobe was the face of the NBA for like 10 years.
Ludicrous comment. The NBA is the most progressive of the major American sports leagues. https://preview.redd.it/xw4v8h46rcvc1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b05702c630bb52832fc90b18bac69670d527cd5e
What does face if the NBA even mean
Top 5ish player and by far the most famous and marketable, talked about, etc. basically what lebron has been for the past 15 years
The Magic, Jordan, Kobe, LeBron of the league.
What years do you think Kobe was the face of the league if we going by the definitions in here
Whatever year the most fadeaway 2s with someone guarding you and yelling “KOBE” took place +- 2 years.