Post-Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant: Next Big Face Amidst the NBA's 'Faceless' Era

It can be argued that today, we exist within the NBA’s ‘faceless’ era. Although there is no denying the presence of rising stars amongst us, there are less obvious choices when considering what players will lead the continuing momentum of the NBA, whilst maintaining gritty competition and inspiring the populace. Below, I consider the following question - who are the young stars that will carry us into the post-Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant generation?

1. Anthony Edwards

Without much hesitation, Anthony Edwards is my first pick. Edwards has the whole package -- he’s a killer on the court, charismatic, a student of the game, determined to win, and has fun while doing it. I would argue that he is already emerging as a face of the NBA, but still lies within the shadows of his legendary predecessors; this will likely change once they retire. I believe his influence can also be attributed to his chemistry with his teammates, particularly before the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, although the Timberwolves’ declining performance and team rapport this season have put a damper on this. At only 23 years old, Edwards still has so much uncapped potential to explore. 

2. Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren is a dynamic center who fits perfectly within his role on the Oklahoma City Thunder and is only in his second year within the NBA. When considering emerging faces of the NBA, I rank Chet Holmgren above Victor Wembanyama, largely due to his home-grown status; although some may disagree, I believe Holmgren resonates more with the American people because of this reason. We thoroughly enjoy seeing displays of American excellence. Wembanyama did win Rookie of the Year over Holmgren, but their skill sets are very similar, and their matchups will always be a must-watch for years to come. I believe Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder already are and will be one of the most exciting teams to watch; at a time where certain moves within the league appear heavily transactional, their genuine togetherness and talent as a team radiate authenticity.

3. Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama is a generational talent that commands attention everywhere on the court, on both offense and defense. For the reasons above, I ranked him below Chet Holmgren, but as you have probably heard many times before, he will likely become one of the NBA’s topmost talents within a few years at least. He can simply be lethal in any position, including at the three-point line, and is able to command offense similarly to Giannis Antetokounmpo. I do believe his marketability would benefit from showing his personality more in the media, but considering it is also only his second year in the NBA, he still has a great amount of time to find his footing in this sense. 

4. Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokić is currently having another amazing season, and is in the MVP conversation once again, having won three MVP awards already. Anyone who knows basketball is familiar with Jokić’s unstoppable force on the court. When it comes to being a face of the NBA, I think he both gains and suffers from his slightly nonchalant personality toward basketball -- although how nonchalant can you actually be if you’re that good? People see Jokić as an interesting case study as well as a guy who simply wants to ride his horses after work. In my opinion, this makes him a face of the NBA, but perhaps not the biggest, requiring greater figures alongside him.

5. Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

‘Luka Magic’ is real, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s isolation game and passing ability is similar to Luka Dončić while reigning as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s leader. Dončić is always electrifying in the moments that matter the most, and what he does on the court is almost unbelievable at times. His playful and infectious personality makes him appealing as well. What sets him apart from being one of the bigger faces of the NBA, however, are his atrocious spurts of defense and his consistent complaining with the referees, which comes off as an effort issue, and a way of compensating for said issue. 

6. Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball

I rank Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball together because they are both flashy, fun to watch, and high-volume offensive threats. Each has their uniquely compelling style as well: Ja Morant is essentially an acrobat, while LaMelo Ball is playing Chino Hills pick-up on the big screen. Ja Morant’s Achilles heel is the bad press that has historically surrounded him, although he can potentially change this around in the years to come. LaMelo Ball is a liability on defense and still has that slightly immature personality that he will eventually have to grow out of, which for the time being is fun to see. Overall, the next generation of NBA figureheads must address the reasons why NBA viewership is decreasing, and because it has yet to be fully reckoned with, the NBA is still somewhat faceless. Although this list is not extensive, these players are on their way to fill the power vacuum once Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant retire, and it will be exciting to see their trajectories as players.