Stephen A. Smith challenges Anthony Edwards after his comments about Victor Wembanyama being the “face of the league”

Currently, many believe that Victor Wembanyama is the future face of the NBA, and it’s a reasonable viewpoint considering his unique skills that set him apart from any player we’ve seen before. While he hasn’t yet found significant success with the San Antonio Spurs, it’s only his second season in the league. It took LeBron James a few years to reach his dominant level as well. Wembanyama is certainly on track to become a superstar, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith argues that he doesn’t believe an international player can be the true face of the NBA.

Basketball is traditionally seen as an American sport, which is why Stephen A. Smith believes that even if Victor Wembanyama becomes the best player in the NBA, he still might not be able to become the face of the league.

“My personal opinion is I don’t believe an international player can be the face of the NBA,” Smith said on Tuesday. “I know they’re global, iconic figures, their popularity extends globally, but the NBA is an American born sport, and it needs to resonate in America, and if it doesn’t resonate in America, then it’s not going to matter to America, how you resonate beyond and so that’s just my mentality. That’s how I think about it, not to say they can’t be popular but I just think about it that way.”

So, who is the face of the NBA if it’s not Wembanyama? Smith is hoping that it ends up being Anthony Edwards.

“My wish is that Anthony Edwards changes his mind, and the reason why is because, I mean, my favorite players are him and Steph Curry. And where I fell in love with Anthony Edwards wasn’t with the dunks or whatever it was with. It was when the playoffs showed up last year and that brother was giving it to the Phoenix Suns,” Smith continued. “I mean, that to me, was the nail in the coffee, because he was talking major smack to his idol, Kevin Durant, and he was going after him. Remember, I’m somebody that feels very, very highly about Devin Booker. I think Devin Booker is an absolute stud. I watched that brother get on the court against them brothers and just shrink them. I mean, let them know there was levels to it. And I don’t know who told y’all y’all were on it, but y’all ain’t and went at them.”