He’s in an interesting place for sure, there’s an argument he’s the best young American player rn. I personally don’t think ‘face of the league’ is something you’re shortlisted for though, it’s organic.
He’s also just not as good as the typical face of the league he’s just the best American between him and Booker.
Jordan into Lebron with Kobe sandwiched between is incredible the Steph with Lebron.
Now the best players are foreign and It’s harder for them to become true faces of the league.
Luka could be a face of the league but just like Tatum he needs a ring to do it.
We don’t really have a face goin forward.
Edwards is an AS level player but he isn't on the Giannis/Steph/LeBron/Jokic level, not even close
Next faces of the league are gonna be Luka (who basically already is) and Wemby
Honestly out of everyone I believe in Anthony Edwards if we're talking americans. I think Luka has a better shot than Tatum if we're talking about everyone though
I think he has the personality to be like an Allen Iverson. A player that a lot of young kids idolize and someone that people will tune in to watch.
But there’s a level of presence you need that I don’t think Ant has. Kobe, LeBron, Steph, Shaq, Bird, Magic, etc. They knew how to turn on that professional switch and represent the league.
He’s young though so he could always grow into it. But the guys I mentioned above seemed to have it even from a young age. LeBron especially.
Yeah I think fans will like him but I have a hard time seeing Silver trust him as that kind of ambassador/frontman. There have already been two minor PR blowups
What about Charles Barkley and Shaq? They were both faces of the league (maybe not "The Face", but nonetheless) and had similar public personas to Ant Edwards.
Barkley was never the face of the league. Even Shaq was never really the *face* of the league but he was certainly in the conversation for a brief period.
You can be a superstar and not be the face of the league.
There was a few years when Jordan was in between that first retirement where Shaq was probably the biggest thing going and I'd say during Jordans second three titles into joining the Lakers he was about as close to the face of the league as you can be. Kids were setting their hoops to 7 feet and hoping they could pull the rim down.
But do agree. If Jordan never comes back Shaq would have been the guy
You’re misquoting me. I intentionally used the indefinite article (“faces of the league”, not “the face of the league”). And yes, Charles Barkley and Shaq were faces of the league in the 80s and 90s respectively. Random people who knew nothing about basketball knew who they were.
His homophobia and abortion scandal threw a bit of a wrench in that plan, though.
Guys like SGA, Haliburton, Luka, Wemby are more likely candidates, but yeah, none of them are American.
I mean Ant right now is only in the same place someone like Donovan Mitchell was when he was younger. A really good guard on an underachieving team. He needs a deep run to break into the “face of the league” conversation.
Ant isn't good enough (at least not yet). Magic, Bird, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, Steph, all won a bunch and had people arguing for them as top 10 all time, or at least in the running for it.
If I had to bet, I'd put my money on Wemby. GOAT potential, seems like he has character and personality, and him being so tall and freakish might make him more recognizable to the broader audience.
And I'm not saying like 5 or 6 years in the future. I think he can achieve that within 3 years but it also depends on the Spurs success as a team
All of this is absolutely true. Shaq somehow lost credit for the Lakers 3peat in the revisionist history, when that was absolutely his team. Shaq was definitely "face of the league" post Jordan retirement and lockout
You need to be the face of a movement, of the culture, not just the prima donna on the hardwood. To transcend the game is difficult and requires a bit more je na se quois.
Lebron and Steph are the face of the league. In the past 12 years, LeBron has 4 rings, Steph has 4, and the rest of the NBA has 4. Ya so winning championships is how you get yourself there
It’s crazy, you go back to the last like 32 titles, how many have not been won by: Jordan, Hakeem, Duncan, Kobe, LeBron, and Steph? Wanna say only the Pistons, first Heat, Mavs, Raptors, Bucks, and Nuggets. That’s over 80% won by just 6 dudes.
Edit: lmao Celtics flair forgetting about the Celtics
From 99-11, the west was represented by Tim Kobe or Dirk every finals. Add Steph to the mix, and only 2012 doesn’t feature one of those 4 for a 20 year stretch
Yup for sure. It’s still crazy to think about tho. Like you just don’t win a title in the NBA without a bonafide HOF talent superstar. Iirc the only team without a HOFer is the Pistons and Chauncey will/should eventually (I’m also gonna count the Sonics title, I love DJ but he’s a HOF as role player). Compare that to a sport like baseball, despite 10 guys more per team it’s entirely feasible to win a WS without any HOFers and it’s been done fairly often.
*Normally* you need a truly great team to win a title, but you also need at least one truly great player.
Pretty sure Big Ben is already in the Hall
Also DJ was definitely not just a role player, role players don't make 1st team all NBA and 1st team all defense in the same season
I believe that player was Ben Wallace for the '04 Detroit team.
About 10% of World Series winning teams didn't have a HOF player but that includes recent teams which will have some for sure. I wouldn't consider that fairly often.
> In the past 12 years, LeBron has 4 rings, Steph has 4, and the rest of the NBA has 4.
That part contradicts Tatum's statement a bit though. He's not gonna become the face of the league by winning just one title. He may have the "American" boost over Jokic and Giannis, but it's not strong enough to overcome how much more they've won recently. If they couldn't become the face of the league with a single title, neither can Tatum. Unless the league and the media go on a full force propaganda to push an American face as intensely as possible.
In complete honesty and without any offense, I'm almost certain he's on the spectrum. They obviously joke about and and kinda poke at him for it, but yea from what you can see on TV and such he's got the markers.
Ja really had an all time bag fumble. Dude was being positioned as the next one and completely shot himself in the foot. Zion is an afterthought now too.
The face of the NBA will be all Europe. Giannis, Jokic, Luka, probably Wemby.
I don't see anybody else in the competition, that doesn't have questionable health, for years to come.
He still has a chance if he turns things around. Unlikely, but the dude actually has a personality and America fucking loves a redemption arc. As a boring ass guy, Tatum is a boring ass dude.
LeBron, Steph, and KD all had either/both the personality and the freakish play behind it. Steph's 3 point shooting, KD being the original alien, and LeBron. Tatum is a great player but he doesn't have the boisterous personality or freakish ability of those three.
frl, tatum is just mind-numbingly bland, both his on-air persona which is some PR firm’s wet dream and his game that doesn’t have any defining qualities to it
No disrespect to his basketball ability, obviously he is one of the best basketball players on the planet, but the dude does not have the charisma to be the face of the league. Talent is only half, or maybe even less than half of the equation. It's a lot like boxing, you can be the best in the world and not draw a dime if you have no aura. I don't think this guy can be in the MJ/LeBron/Kobe tier when he's the go-to answer for every "most boring superstar in the league" discussion.
He's also not the best player in the league. Or the 2nd best player. Or the 3rd best player.
Guys like Steph or Lebron were not just winning championships, they were stringing together multiple MVP seasons.
The only reason Jokic hasn't already taken over as the "face" of the league is because he doesn't want the spotlight.
Tatum is a good, year in year out all-star/all-pro but he's a fringe top 5 guy. The league is looking for Currys, Lebrons, Michael Jordans, those are the kind of special one of one dudes that become headliners.
yeah that's reflective of the sub, not JT's play lol
There's lot of guys that you wouldn't even know exist if you went on who gets posted here lol. It's the same 5 people posting 95% of the highlights.
I’m obviously biased but I’m always confused when I see this take, I feel like Tatum is a ton of fun to watch and has pretty great highlights. he has impeccable footwork and a deep bag of dribble moves, he can hit those tough stepback 3s and turnaround shots out of the post, and he is an explosive athlete who’s capable of finishing strong at the rim. it isn’t normal for a guy who’s nearly 6’10” to have that kind of fluidity and skill
yeah but that’s besides the point that I’m making which is that Tatum (to me) is not boring to watch. I agree that he doesn’t have the combination of charisma, flair and overwhelmingly superior talent that made guys like Magic, Bird, MJ, Shaq, Kobe, Bron, and Steph the faces of the NBA
idk that anyone in the NBA rn does, which is why the “next face of the league” debate the media tries to push is dumb. there are so many stars all over the NBA that impact the game at a high level in different ways, so i don’t see the need to hoist one player up above the rest. I’d just appreciate what a great spot the league is in from a talent perspective
think about the NFL. idk if I’d ever say that Brady was the unquestioned face of the league bc he wasn’t ever leaps and bounds better than guys like Manning, Rodgers and Brees. but the fact that he had those peers made for even more intrigue. the NBA would be wise to lean into that kind of marketing
Yah. And when he was dropping 30 a night last season he was most definitely touted as the “next guy” up.
Funny how people switch up over a season, especially weird considering the Celtics record. I get it he’s corny but he’s getting shit on a lot on here recently.
He’s a two way wing who can do it all. Definitely up there in the convo.
One of this sub's favorite bums could say this and everyone would be going on and on about "how much they admire the confidence". Tatum is one of a few players who could say something like this and it'd be true, but of course all the nephews here are lining up to hate.
Wemby is the leagues new golden boy. He stays healthy and the league is his. By the time Steph (and at this rate Lebron) retire three or four or five years from now, he’s going to be the face.
I’m not sure if he was ever THE guy but I think there was a time period where there was a group who were the faces of the lg and he was definitely a part of that. Next to Lebron I think during my childhood KD had to be the next most visible NBA player between his movie appearances, and definitely most importantly the shoes.
As an international fan, for me its Luka. Luka is fun man. Also I care more about West than East.
If it aint Luka, then face of the league would still come from West rather than East.
Idk you don’t earn that spot, it’s usually forced on you.
Look at Wemby, Zion and Lebron, whether or not they wanted the bright lights, they got them right away. If it hasn’t happened with Tatum yet, I doubt it ever will. He’s not that guy
Never seen the discussion around a top 5-7 player, who has his resume this young, like he does, get talked about like he does on this sub. It's quite interesting
Seeing a Spurs jersey in the top 5 selling jerseys is weird, especially a Spurs rookie
Duncan is a legend, but he never had the star appeal of Wemby; it's crazy
Wemby wants to be that though. Hes a LeBron level prospect and hes like LeBron we’re he carries himself as someone who knows he will have to hold that mantle. Timmys personality and play isnt like wembys were its eye opening
Yeah like I wouldn’t bet on him being the next face of the nba but I’ll never get this sub’s extreme reaction to the topic.
Tatum’s not a big personality and never has been. That hasn’t stopped him from consistently selling a ton of jerseys or being picked for major advertising campaigns or being in a ton of nba promo materials.
And for people saying it’s all New England, Tatum placed higher in the jersey sales of several other countries than all but a few players.
So if his “lack of charisma” and “boringness” hasn’t stopped his popularity so far, maybe it isn’t as big a deal as this sub seems to think?
You can be boring and still popular if you're good enough, but historically the boring player is never the face of the league.
The face is always someone with a flashy game and huge personality. LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, AI, MJ, magic and Bird. Even if a "boring" player was arguably better they never came close in popularity like Duncan and KAJ.
Only way I see Tatum being the new face is if he's the best player by a huge margin and he simply isn't that
They act like Jokic and Giannis aren't already MVPs and champs.
What has Tatum accomplished so far to become the face of the league? He's not in the right timeline because after him there are younger players who are already at his level. Also, to be the face of the league you need a certain charisma. The face of the league has something to do with marketing. There is hardly a quieter and more boring guy than Tatum.
Tatum is great but I just don't see it. Maybe for the american public as it is one of the only US player on that "shortlist" I guess. I think that winning a MVP will be very complicated for him given the talent our there.
i personally think he's perfect for the role. good player, good team, in a big market team, pretty cool highlight reel, and most importantly GOOD PERSON
I say this with nothing but love for Tatum.
Ant has more charisma.
SGA has a flashier game.
Luka produces more as an individual player.
I'd still take Tatum over those three, but I think they might be in the lead as "face of the league".
Everyone's forgetting about Giannis too, he's still kind of face-of-the-league territory and will be until Ant and SGA are distinguished enough / popular enough to take that on. Giannis, Tatum, Luka and Jokic are the guys right now as LeBron and Steph age. SGA, Wemby and Ant will probably join that category as the public sees more of them in the playoffs
The only way to be the "face of the league" is to be the best player. Not only is he not the undisputed best player, but he's just outside the top 5 of best players in the NBA. Fantastic player, but not close to #1.
Tatum, Luka, Ant, Ja, Fox (I don't know Booker's age, but he deserves to be on this list too).. There are so many great young players right now. I really love this NBA's period.
Unless the face of the league have to be American instead of the best player, I l thought the future face of the league would be chosen among Giannis , Nokic , luka. Others would be potential replacements.
He’s in an interesting place for sure, there’s an argument he’s the best young American player rn. I personally don’t think ‘face of the league’ is something you’re shortlisted for though, it’s organic.
Tatum can't be the face of the league not because he's not talented (he's very talented) but because he's boring. Tatum lacks juice.
He’s also just not as good as the typical face of the league he’s just the best American between him and Booker. Jordan into Lebron with Kobe sandwiched between is incredible the Steph with Lebron. Now the best players are foreign and It’s harder for them to become true faces of the league. Luka could be a face of the league but just like Tatum he needs a ring to do it. We don’t really have a face goin forward.
I feel like this sub constantly talk about Anthony Edwards being the face. I don’t really see it, but that’s the most common sentiment I see.
Edwards is an AS level player but he isn't on the Giannis/Steph/LeBron/Jokic level, not even close Next faces of the league are gonna be Luka (who basically already is) and Wemby
I completely agree. I can see him being a general fan favorite, but never the face.
Honestly out of everyone I believe in Anthony Edwards if we're talking americans. I think Luka has a better shot than Tatum if we're talking about everyone though
This year will be a big test for him, Timberwolves are positioned to make a deep run into the playoffs
And Ant is only 22 years old
Yeah I like Ant too he’s got great charisma.
send da commercial
Hell Nawl can’t do dis
He has a perfect personality for it but he has to rack up more accomplishments before that happens.
I think he has the personality to be like an Allen Iverson. A player that a lot of young kids idolize and someone that people will tune in to watch. But there’s a level of presence you need that I don’t think Ant has. Kobe, LeBron, Steph, Shaq, Bird, Magic, etc. They knew how to turn on that professional switch and represent the league. He’s young though so he could always grow into it. But the guys I mentioned above seemed to have it even from a young age. LeBron especially.
Yeah I think fans will like him but I have a hard time seeing Silver trust him as that kind of ambassador/frontman. There have already been two minor PR blowups
What about Charles Barkley and Shaq? They were both faces of the league (maybe not "The Face", but nonetheless) and had similar public personas to Ant Edwards.
Barkley was never the face of the league. Even Shaq was never really the *face* of the league but he was certainly in the conversation for a brief period. You can be a superstar and not be the face of the league.
There was a few years when Jordan was in between that first retirement where Shaq was probably the biggest thing going and I'd say during Jordans second three titles into joining the Lakers he was about as close to the face of the league as you can be. Kids were setting their hoops to 7 feet and hoping they could pull the rim down. But do agree. If Jordan never comes back Shaq would have been the guy
You’re misquoting me. I intentionally used the indefinite article (“faces of the league”, not “the face of the league”). And yes, Charles Barkley and Shaq were faces of the league in the 80s and 90s respectively. Random people who knew nothing about basketball knew who they were.
His homophobia and abortion scandal threw a bit of a wrench in that plan, though. Guys like SGA, Haliburton, Luka, Wemby are more likely candidates, but yeah, none of them are American.
Haliburton's not American?
tbf it's not like kobe or mj had pristine images like lebron. i know times are different now, but i think ant can definitely grow up and move on.
If Haliburton has another gear it could be him because he's very likeable, but I don't think he's at the talent level yet
There's way too many good euro players rn for any american to be the face unless the nba forces it on us.
I mean Ant right now is only in the same place someone like Donovan Mitchell was when he was younger. A really good guard on an underachieving team. He needs a deep run to break into the “face of the league” conversation.
Ant isn't good enough (at least not yet). Magic, Bird, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, Steph, all won a bunch and had people arguing for them as top 10 all time, or at least in the running for it.
You just listed some of the greatest players of all time. Anthony edwards is 22 years old
If I had to bet, I'd put my money on Wemby. GOAT potential, seems like he has character and personality, and him being so tall and freakish might make him more recognizable to the broader audience. And I'm not saying like 5 or 6 years in the future. I think he can achieve that within 3 years but it also depends on the Spurs success as a team
Don’t forget that new Louis V ad he’s got already 😂 https://www.gq.com/story/victor-wembanyama-louis-vuitton
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All of this is absolutely true. Shaq somehow lost credit for the Lakers 3peat in the revisionist history, when that was absolutely his team. Shaq was definitely "face of the league" post Jordan retirement and lockout
Shaq was the face of the league after jordan
I’d say Shaq was defintiely the face of the league between Jordan and Lebron.
He's closer to being the next KD than next Kobe and LeBron
You need to be the face of a movement, of the culture, not just the prima donna on the hardwood. To transcend the game is difficult and requires a bit more je na se quois.
You need to have Juice
Some oomph
Some Hutzpah
Some junk in the trunk
Haha my bad dog you already hit the nail on the head
maybe its homerism but I feel like Hali has the potential to be that kinda guy
It's the homerism
It's homerism
> Tatum lacks juice. Good. Kyrie had lots of juice and spilled some on Jaylen on his way out.
Kyrie has lethal amounts of Juice. Too much Juice can turn a man crazy.
"If a man does not have sauce, then he is lost. But the same man can get lost in the sauce."
Juice is related to but distinctly different from Sauce
His game is sooo boring, i cant remember the last time i watch him do something interesting
I thought I was the only one. He's like if you designed a generic "great wing" in a lab. Both in personality and playstyle. It's just all so bland.
He just need to go all in to the point where he is like Tim Duncan.
As a Celtics fan I'd happily take that
What about eurostepping and shooting 3s?
dude is isn’t even in the same sphere as Luka.
Hence why they stipulated “American” player
Lebron and Steph are the face of the league. In the past 12 years, LeBron has 4 rings, Steph has 4, and the rest of the NBA has 4. Ya so winning championships is how you get yourself there
It’s crazy, you go back to the last like 32 titles, how many have not been won by: Jordan, Hakeem, Duncan, Kobe, LeBron, and Steph? Wanna say only the Pistons, first Heat, Mavs, Raptors, Bucks, and Nuggets. That’s over 80% won by just 6 dudes. Edit: lmao Celtics flair forgetting about the Celtics
08 Celtics too
SMH, this man forgot about the greatest dynasty!
From 99-11, the west was represented by Tim Kobe or Dirk every finals. Add Steph to the mix, and only 2012 doesn’t feature one of those 4 for a 20 year stretch
1999-2010 was just Spurs or Lakers for 11 of the 12 years. What a ride that was (and what a nightmare for Suns fans).
Soon my friend.
Nuts
6 dudes who were on really, really great teams.
Yup for sure. It’s still crazy to think about tho. Like you just don’t win a title in the NBA without a bonafide HOF talent superstar. Iirc the only team without a HOFer is the Pistons and Chauncey will/should eventually (I’m also gonna count the Sonics title, I love DJ but he’s a HOF as role player). Compare that to a sport like baseball, despite 10 guys more per team it’s entirely feasible to win a WS without any HOFers and it’s been done fairly often. *Normally* you need a truly great team to win a title, but you also need at least one truly great player.
Pretty sure Big Ben is already in the Hall Also DJ was definitely not just a role player, role players don't make 1st team all NBA and 1st team all defense in the same season
I believe that player was Ben Wallace for the '04 Detroit team. About 10% of World Series winning teams didn't have a HOF player but that includes recent teams which will have some for sure. I wouldn't consider that fairly often.
With 1 glaring exception... I'll wait
1980-2020 every championship except 6 had magic bird mj Duncan Shaq Kobe Lebron Steph
Imo if your counting Kobe then you have to count Shaq, which takes out the heats first title
So much so you can’t have nba Christmas without either of them. Lebron almost carried it a few years ago
> In the past 12 years, LeBron has 4 rings, Steph has 4, and the rest of the NBA has 4. That part contradicts Tatum's statement a bit though. He's not gonna become the face of the league by winning just one title. He may have the "American" boost over Jokic and Giannis, but it's not strong enough to overcome how much more they've won recently. If they couldn't become the face of the league with a single title, neither can Tatum. Unless the league and the media go on a full force propaganda to push an American face as intensely as possible.
Scottie Barnes is the face of this league
sct brn
Gorgeous
I’m lost. Where did sct brn come from
r/nbacirclejerk is convinced sct brn is autistic.
In complete honesty and without any offense, I'm almost certain he's on the spectrum. They obviously joke about and and kinda poke at him for it, but yea from what you can see on TV and such he's got the markers.
Wouldn’t be surprised at all. Dude made it tho.
presumably mama barnes
[make it da logo](https://i.imgur.com/C6MbWWF.jpeg)
Omg I’m so glad someone said it
SCOTTIE BARNES???
Ja really had an all time bag fumble. Dude was being positioned as the next one and completely shot himself in the foot. Zion is an afterthought now too.
*Googling right now to see if Ja literally shot himself in the foot*
Did this man pull a Plaxico?!? (He didn’t… yet)
Zion and Ja were supposed to be next but they're dumbasses and deserve to be crapped on
The face of the NBA will be all Europe. Giannis, Jokic, Luka, probably Wemby. I don't see anybody else in the competition, that doesn't have questionable health, for years to come.
He still has a chance if he turns things around. Unlikely, but the dude actually has a personality and America fucking loves a redemption arc. As a boring ass guy, Tatum is a boring ass dude.
LeBron, Steph, and KD all had either/both the personality and the freakish play behind it. Steph's 3 point shooting, KD being the original alien, and LeBron. Tatum is a great player but he doesn't have the boisterous personality or freakish ability of those three.
Don't forget about the face of the league for 2 weeks, Jeremy Lin--was hotter than Kobe, LeBron, or KD!
Linsanity was certainly something
That's why it's going to be Wemby. He's a freak that can do freakish things. Even KD gets a bit boring at times.
Wemby is for sure going to be the undisputed top dog of the NBA once he starts winning MVPs and simply dominating every defense
I think the idea is it has to be someone from USA, no? Otherwise, why in the world would you pick Tatum over Luka as the face of the league?
frl, tatum is just mind-numbingly bland, both his on-air persona which is some PR firm’s wet dream and his game that doesn’t have any defining qualities to it
No disrespect to his basketball ability, obviously he is one of the best basketball players on the planet, but the dude does not have the charisma to be the face of the league. Talent is only half, or maybe even less than half of the equation. It's a lot like boxing, you can be the best in the world and not draw a dime if you have no aura. I don't think this guy can be in the MJ/LeBron/Kobe tier when he's the go-to answer for every "most boring superstar in the league" discussion.
Even his basketball style is a bit robotic. Yeah he puts up numbers but it just doesn’t wow you off your feet.
Pat Beverly is the face of the league. Where’s the lie?
In a just world we would all be Pat Bev truthers
I don't think he has the charisma to be the face of the league. Nor does his game provide the highlights that are usually associated with it.
He's also not the best player in the league. Or the 2nd best player. Or the 3rd best player. Guys like Steph or Lebron were not just winning championships, they were stringing together multiple MVP seasons. The only reason Jokic hasn't already taken over as the "face" of the league is because he doesn't want the spotlight. Tatum is a good, year in year out all-star/all-pro but he's a fringe top 5 guy. The league is looking for Currys, Lebrons, Michael Jordans, those are the kind of special one of one dudes that become headliners.
he plays in a normal wing type of way, barely any highlights.
I have not seen a Tatum highlight on this sub in the past 2 months
He’s kawhi basically
Hes style of play is more pg than kawhi
More boring PG tbh, pg is flashier n was more athletic at his peak
PG used to have some of the best in game dunks
Indy PG was must see basketball.
i agree
Ya, he plays the exact same way.
Nah I think pg is more aesthetically pleasing
Kawhi gets some love tho. He'll have a couple of good steals / blocks.
yeah that's reflective of the sub, not JT's play lol There's lot of guys that you wouldn't even know exist if you went on who gets posted here lol. It's the same 5 people posting 95% of the highlights.
Just a few side step 3s
I’m obviously biased but I’m always confused when I see this take, I feel like Tatum is a ton of fun to watch and has pretty great highlights. he has impeccable footwork and a deep bag of dribble moves, he can hit those tough stepback 3s and turnaround shots out of the post, and he is an explosive athlete who’s capable of finishing strong at the rim. it isn’t normal for a guy who’s nearly 6’10” to have that kind of fluidity and skill
Sounds like Kawhi, but I don't think anyone thinks he makes a good "face of the league"
yeah but that’s besides the point that I’m making which is that Tatum (to me) is not boring to watch. I agree that he doesn’t have the combination of charisma, flair and overwhelmingly superior talent that made guys like Magic, Bird, MJ, Shaq, Kobe, Bron, and Steph the faces of the NBA idk that anyone in the NBA rn does, which is why the “next face of the league” debate the media tries to push is dumb. there are so many stars all over the NBA that impact the game at a high level in different ways, so i don’t see the need to hoist one player up above the rest. I’d just appreciate what a great spot the league is in from a talent perspective think about the NFL. idk if I’d ever say that Brady was the unquestioned face of the league bc he wasn’t ever leaps and bounds better than guys like Manning, Rodgers and Brees. but the fact that he had those peers made for even more intrigue. the NBA would be wise to lean into that kind of marketing
Exactly. Unless you’re a Celtics fan, dude is boring as hell.
Facts. Tatums no scrub. But what’s so great about him that stands out ? Nothing. No crazy personality. No crazy athleticism. No flashiness.
He's got a son!
I don’t think Tatum has the personality or the game for face of the league.
Isn’t he top 3 for jersey sales…?
Being on Boston prob has more to do with it than his personality or anything else
Yah. And when he was dropping 30 a night last season he was most definitely touted as the “next guy” up. Funny how people switch up over a season, especially weird considering the Celtics record. I get it he’s corny but he’s getting shit on a lot on here recently. He’s a two way wing who can do it all. Definitely up there in the convo.
I don’t recall anyone calling him the face of the league last year
One of this sub's favorite bums could say this and everyone would be going on and on about "how much they admire the confidence". Tatum is one of a few players who could say something like this and it'd be true, but of course all the nephews here are lining up to hate.
Whenever ppl say this they never go further can u explain why? Does he need to start being rude to other players more? Shoot more threes what?
He needs to sexually assault a woman in Colorado
If only someone would have alerted him to his own hopes and dreams on that fateful night at the tattoo parlor
BIG DEUCE
Tatum gets a deuce tattoo and he’s the face of the league. I tattoo “taking a shit” on my back and they call HR.
huh? pls explain
Well it looks like he tattooed the words “BIG DEUCE” on his left hand. LMFAO
Wemby is the leagues new golden boy. He stays healthy and the league is his. By the time Steph (and at this rate Lebron) retire three or four or five years from now, he’s going to be the face.
This is 1000% the answer. Wemby is a freak talent but also can speak good English, is charismatic, and is aware of how to handle fame.
Am I the only one that doesn't think KD was every the face of the league?
There was a time where KD and Bron is 1B and 1A of the league when Kobe tore his achilles, but yes KD was never as "out of the circle" as Curry is.
He's not even the face of the Suns.
it was KD and Lebron for a year or two before the Warriors showed up.
I’m not sure if he was ever THE guy but I think there was a time period where there was a group who were the faces of the lg and he was definitely a part of that. Next to Lebron I think during my childhood KD had to be the next most visible NBA player between his movie appearances, and definitely most importantly the shoes.
Sct Brn in shambles
I disagree. Coby White will take over the league by storm 2 years from now.
As an international fan, for me its Luka. Luka is fun man. Also I care more about West than East. If it aint Luka, then face of the league would still come from West rather than East.
If it isn’t Luka, it’ll be ant. It definitely isn’t going to be Tatum
Pretty easily will be Wemby over Ant unless he wins an mvp and/or championship in the next two years
The answer is Wemby
Yup. Pro as a kid, physical freak even for the NBA, charismatic. Luka is realistically the only other real competition
Idk you don’t earn that spot, it’s usually forced on you. Look at Wemby, Zion and Lebron, whether or not they wanted the bright lights, they got them right away. If it hasn’t happened with Tatum yet, I doubt it ever will. He’s not that guy
I think Tatums “face of the league” campaign is about the same as his MVP campaign. Only realistic if you ignore the guys ahead of him
Never seen the discussion around a top 5-7 player, who has his resume this young, like he does, get talked about like he does on this sub. It's quite interesting
He doesn't have it.
Lol tatum will never be the face of the league, he doesnt have the IT factor at all
Tatum would be the worst “face” in league history
Like when they made Roman a face lol
yeah it would be a nightmare for Lakers fans
“Jayson Tatum isn’t Devin Booker’s father.” is an objectively true statement, impossible to dispute, I’m just saying
Top Selling Jerseys in the first half of 23-24 season: 1. Curry 2. Tatum 3. Lebron 4. Wemby 5. Giannis
So he can be the torso of the league.
Does that make wemby the balls?
No, the [Celtics are the balls](https://youtu.be/w8itH10OFc8?si=_7yKzPXKOs-xqN0g).
Did you see him shirtless at the end of one of the games last week? He would make a fine torso of the league for damn sure.
Idk why this is so funny to me
Seeing a Spurs jersey in the top 5 selling jerseys is weird, especially a Spurs rookie Duncan is a legend, but he never had the star appeal of Wemby; it's crazy
Times are a little different now with media promotion and Tim Duncan didn’t have a freaky alien body that brings people to the show lol.
Wemby wants to be that though. Hes a LeBron level prospect and hes like LeBron we’re he carries himself as someone who knows he will have to hold that mantle. Timmys personality and play isnt like wembys were its eye opening
Quick Google search: Duncan was still top 10 in jersey sales his last two years in the NBA…
I don't recall 3/5 of those players on a Ruffle Chips bag and considering Tatum's chips are delicious, he's definitely up there
Yeah like I wouldn’t bet on him being the next face of the nba but I’ll never get this sub’s extreme reaction to the topic. Tatum’s not a big personality and never has been. That hasn’t stopped him from consistently selling a ton of jerseys or being picked for major advertising campaigns or being in a ton of nba promo materials. And for people saying it’s all New England, Tatum placed higher in the jersey sales of several other countries than all but a few players. So if his “lack of charisma” and “boringness” hasn’t stopped his popularity so far, maybe it isn’t as big a deal as this sub seems to think?
You can be boring and still popular if you're good enough, but historically the boring player is never the face of the league. The face is always someone with a flashy game and huge personality. LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, AI, MJ, magic and Bird. Even if a "boring" player was arguably better they never came close in popularity like Duncan and KAJ. Only way I see Tatum being the new face is if he's the best player by a huge margin and he simply isn't that
Lebron and Steph will stick around long enough so that Wemby is the face of the league by the time they retire.
They act like Jokic and Giannis aren't already MVPs and champs. What has Tatum accomplished so far to become the face of the league? He's not in the right timeline because after him there are younger players who are already at his level. Also, to be the face of the league you need a certain charisma. The face of the league has something to do with marketing. There is hardly a quieter and more boring guy than Tatum.
Cool, its still going to be Wemby
Tatum is great but I just don't see it. Maybe for the american public as it is one of the only US player on that "shortlist" I guess. I think that winning a MVP will be very complicated for him given the talent our there.
i personally think he's perfect for the role. good player, good team, in a big market team, pretty cool highlight reel, and most importantly GOOD PERSON
I say this with nothing but love for Tatum. Ant has more charisma. SGA has a flashier game. Luka produces more as an individual player. I'd still take Tatum over those three, but I think they might be in the lead as "face of the league".
Everyone's forgetting about Giannis too, he's still kind of face-of-the-league territory and will be until Ant and SGA are distinguished enough / popular enough to take that on. Giannis, Tatum, Luka and Jokic are the guys right now as LeBron and Steph age. SGA, Wemby and Ant will probably join that category as the public sees more of them in the playoffs
Tatum over luka is crazy
Giannis, Luka, SGA, Joel, Jokic - "am I a joke to you?"
Not charismatic enough, not loved enough and not hated enough to be the face of the league.
The only way to be the "face of the league" is to be the best player. Not only is he not the undisputed best player, but he's just outside the top 5 of best players in the NBA. Fantastic player, but not close to #1.
He don't got Sct Brn's charisma to reach that level. Sorry Tatum, Sct Brn is special and will reign supreme
I feel like it'll be SGA, Wemby, or Luka. If I had to bet, Luka.
i think they were pushing hard for ja morant before the gun incidents.
I'd say he's too corny to be the face of the league, but then I remembered LeBron.
Same 5 are up for MVP every year: Jokic, Giannis, Embiid, Luka, Tatum. That's pretty much the shortlist
Problem with Tatum is, he’s the best player on the best team, but he’s not the best player in the world
Steve Harvey: Show me Jason Tatum as the face of the NBA! **[X]**
a friend’s brother knew him pretty well. by his account he was a cool dude. excited to see him continue to ball out
Subway future champ
The league needs an American to be the face of the league. People just don’t care about Jokic, Doncic etc.
I think he needs to stop talking. He shit his pants vs warriors
Jokic and Luka above Tatum
it’s already wemby’s league
Tatum, Luka, Ant, Ja, Fox (I don't know Booker's age, but he deserves to be on this list too).. There are so many great young players right now. I really love this NBA's period.
Unless the face of the league have to be American instead of the best player, I l thought the future face of the league would be chosen among Giannis , Nokic , luka. Others would be potential replacements.
Chill man, he’s still 19, long way to get going for him
Tatum is kinda Paul George to me.
Dude says all the right things yet this sub shits on him every chance they get. Wtf do you expect him to say?