Will Durantula one day be the face of the NBA? Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
We as a society are always looking for what's next. We don't celebrate the past nearly enough, we don't appreciate the present nearly enough, we look to the future.
In the 65-year history of the NBA, we've seen the hypothetical torch pass from the league's elite players. From George Mikan to Bob Pettit to Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, from Oscar Robertson and Jerry West to Julius Erving, from Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to Michael Jordan, from MJ to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
As years have gone by, we have become quicker and quicker to anoint these fledgling superstars as the next poster boy for the league. I can specifically recall Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter and Grant Hill being billed as MJ's heir apparents. I don't recall if it worked out as planned.
In the midst of his 15th season, not to mention the debilitating tread of 1,078 regular season games and another 198 playoff games on his tires, Kobe Bryant's stranglehold as the face of the NBA isn't going to last forever.
LeBron James is the obvious answer as someone who will continue to carry the league when the Black Mamba ultimately does decide to hang it up, but LeBron and Kobe share that mantle now which indicates that honor will be shared in the future. That begs the question, who will become the next face of the NBA along with LeBron?
Conveniently, 24 of the best basketball players in the world gathered in Los Angeles for the 60th NBA All-Star Game this weekend. Those respective 12-man rosters have become increasingly difficult to fill every February. The reason? We're in the midst of a golden age of talent, where there are dozens of players who have Hall of Fame caliber gifts playing in the league today.
Many of these stars have only been in the league for a couple seasons, which leaves the league in a very good place going forward and the competition to become face of the league extremely competitive.
Specifically, the point guard position league wide is as strong as it's been in decades. Marquee young guards like Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Raymond Felton as well as veterans like Tony Parker, Steve Nash and Chauncey Billups all are playing at a high level.
With such a hotbed of talent, it'll simply be too much of a challenge for one of these point guards to vault the others as the face of the league.
Derrick Rose's notoriety has grown immensely thanks to impressive showcases in each of his first two playoff appearances. He has vaulted himself into the MVP discussion with a rock solid 2010-11 season. He has returned the Chicago Bulls to prominence, and has quickly put himself in the conversation among the league's best players.
Rose will have to lead his Bulls to a few playoff series wins in the coming years and attempt to separate himself from his brethren point guards to be identified as the face of the league. No easy feat. Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook aren't going anywhere...each is 26 or younger.
Blake Griffin is a name that warrants consideration as the league's marquee star. Griffin became the first rookie since Yao Ming to be honored as an All-Star, and the first rookie since Tim Duncan to be chosen by the coaches to participate in the All-Star Game.
Blake has taken the league by storm with his nightly SportsCenter-caliber highlight reel dunks and his dazzling consistency, including an impressive 27-game streak of double doubles earlier this season.
But there is one major factor working against Blake Griffin in become the next face of the league. While he does play in the enormous market of Los Angeles, it is for the Clippers. Team success is paramount. Michael Jordan wasn't regarded as the face of the NBA until his team's success matched that of his individual success. As great as Blake Griffin is and will become, he may be hampered by the perennial struggles of his Los Angeles Clippers.
Fair or not, inevitably the perceived "best player" in the league is usually the best scorer in the league. History has us remember the guys who could fill it up. This is why I believe Kevin Durant will become the next face of the National Basketball Association. He'll be in every NBA commercial. He'll be the guy adorning every banner. His face will become synonymous with the NBA.
And the list of reasons are limitless. He's got an unequaled work ethic. He's a great teammate. He's a leader. He's a winner. And he's a scorer. Do you know anybody who doesn't think the world of this 22-year-old wunderkind?
In 2009-10, at just 21 years of age, Durant became the youngest player in the illustrious history of the league to finish as the NBA's scoring leader. He responded the following offseason with an impressive run through the FIBA World Championships, where he was named the MVP of the tournament and led his country to the Gold for the first time since 1994.
Durant came back this year and is again leading the league in scoring and has his Oklahoma City Thunder headed towards another trip to the playoffs. He was voted on as an All-Star starter for the first time in 2010-11, which will certainly be the first of many on his quest to become the unquestioned face of the National Basketball Association.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment