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The NBA is learning a harsh Wembanyama lesson they should have known all along

There is only one answer to the NBA's future face of the league question.
Jahlil Williams
Jahlil Williams

Air Alamo

Oct 27, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) is introduced before the game against the Toronto Raptors at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images / Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Victor Wembanyama is the future face of the league, and there never should have been a question about it. It's a little comical that the topic was pushed so hard over the last year or so, as we watched the Alien enter the league with an emphatic and grand display of unique skills we've never seen meshed into an individual of his ginormous size.

The pundits pondered the possibilities when it was always right under their noses. They asked if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Nikola Jokic possessed the mantle. Some asked why Jayson Tatum wasn't eligible. If you have to ask, you have your answer. It's like the Hall of Fame. If you have to spend a lot of time thinking about whether a player should be in or not, they shouldn't be in.

What makes one the face of the league, though? That's the first question people should be asking. In my opinion, it's a combination of staying out of trouble while winning consistently and embracing the responsibility of a raving fandom that transcends the team they play for. The Spurs are just getting started on the winning part, but Wemby is unlikely to ever get in trouble, and he has the fandom down pact.

Wembanyama checks all of the boxes for the next face of the NBA

There is no one way to emerge as the face of the league. LeBron James' arrival was announced before he stepped foot on the court, and when you watched him, you understood that you were seeing something special. Steph Curry wasn't even the top pick in his draft, though. He had injury issues early, and nobody was checking for him until he began to emerge as the best shooter ever.

It's fair to say that Curry's popularity grew so large that he forced Bron to share the "face of the league" title for the past eight years. They took different paths, but both ended up taking their share of the NBA's frontman burden on their shoulders. What's consistent is youth, though. You can't be the face of the league after you've already entered your prime.

The fans need to see them grow. They must be invested in the journey because they see greatness in the player, and they can't imagine not witnessing it evolve. That's why Victor Wembanyama's social media views are so high. Everyone wants to see what they've never seen before, and they want to see it reach a peak. Not just Spurs fans. Everyone. Vic has that, making his case undeniable.

Jahlil Williams

Jahlil Williams

Jahlil Williams is the Site Expert for Air Alamo, covering the San Antonio Spurs since 2023. His relentless drive and unique writing style propelled him from contributor to the leader of the Spurs-focused site in less than a year. With a Bachelor of Science in Sportscasting from the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting at Full Sail University, Jahlil learned how to perform at a high level in every aspect of sports, from writing to production, with direction from industry professionals such as Dan Patrick and Gus Ramsey. He's added WNBA coverage to his resume in 2025, with heavy focus on the Dallas Wings as a credentialed media member.