There has been a lot of talk about the future face of the NBA and who will be the biggest name in the league in a post-LeBron James, post-Steph Curry future.
Some people say it’s only right that an American athlete represents the NBA since it’s considered an American sports league.
But basketball legend Pau Gasol doesn’t think so.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Gasol said, “I don’t necessarily agree that the face of the league needs to be American.”
He said the NBA has changed so much over the years and basketball has become a global game.
Therefore, the future face of the league can come from anywhere in the world.
“I don’t necessarily agree that the face of the league needs to be American”
Hall of Famer, @PauGasol, shares his thoughts with @TermineRadio on what it takes to become the face of the league pic.twitter.com/a7UUnDSdQO
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) March 7, 2025
Gasol pointed out that the recent MVPs have all been foreign-born stars.
Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have dominated the NBA for years and proven how much growing international talent there is.
This year’s frontrunner for Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is also not American and was born and raised in Canada.
Gasol also said there doesn’t have to be just one face of the league.
Perhaps there will be several stars to fill the voids left by the retirements of James, Curry, Kevin Durant, and others.
If the best players in the league come from different parts of the world, the NBA would be wise to embrace that and let the fans naturally decide who the new face of the sport is.
Basketball has changed a lot over the years, and that’s a very good thing.
International players have never been better or more impactful and that is a cause for celebration.
NEXT: De’Aaron Fox Speaks Out About His Decision To Leave Kings