Stephen A. Smith dead wrong about egregious disrespect to Wembanyama

Most pundits have been on the same page about what's coming down the line from San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama. He's on a path to being the face of the league. It doesn't feel like a stretch to say that based on his skill set, determination to win, personality, and, most importantly, his uniqueness.

There have been several conversations lately about who else could fit that billing, and Anthony Edwards' name is the most popular answer. But Ant recently admitted that he had no desire for that responsibility, naming Wemby as the NBA's next man up for that title. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith pushed back on that notion on his show First Take with a pretty disrespectful reason.

There's no reason an international player can't be the face of the NBA

This shouldn't need saying, but the NBA, despite being short for the National Basketball Association, has a global audience. The face of the NBA doesn't just get that title because he's popular in America—though, they always are—it's because they appeal to fans everywhere. You don't get to be top-five in jersey sales without attracting fans all over the globe, and Wemby has done it in his second season.

Wemby is one of those once-in-a-generation players who end up as the face of the league nine out of ten times. Magic Johnson was one, Shaquille O'Neal was another, and LeBron was the most recent. There have been others like Steph Curry or Kobe Bryant, but it was less obvious that it would happen for those guys.

Victor was touted as the greatest prospect in the history of sports. To claim a player like that couldn't be the face of the league because he was born abroad is very narrow-minded. There is no evidence that Americans have adverse feelings toward foreign-born players.

If that was the case, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic wouldn't be a couple of the most popular players in the league despite playing in Milwaukee and Denver. What hurts Jokic in a possible claim as the face of the league is understanding that it doesn't pain him at all. He doesn't seem to care for such things. Giannis hasn't won enough to earn that crown, either.

The next player who will claim the crown as the face of the NBA needs to be young, anyway. It's time for a fresh face, and Wemby is the freshest with the highest ceiling. His drive to win is already legendary, and his highlight reel already rivals some of the most special players this game has ever seen.

Smith seems to be resistant to an invasion, but the Alien has already arrived, and he's been taking the league by storm for over a year now. When he puts it all together and becomes the scariest player we've ever seen, he'll firmly plant himself as the league's premier player. Catch up, Stephen A.