Is Victor Wembanyama the Face of the NBA? The Numbers - and the Fans - Say Yes
Leave it to Draymond Green to stir the pot during Rivals Week. On his latest episode of The Draymond Show, the four-time NBA champ posed a question that’s been floating around basketball circles for years: *Can the face of the NBA be a non-American player?
- His specific target? Victor Wembanyama - the 7’4” sensation from France who’s already rewriting expectations in just his second season.
Draymond’s take? “We still have yet to see a non-American be the face of the NBA.
The face of the NBA and the best player in the NBA are two totally different things. We all know how special Wemby is... but in saying that, can you have a face of the NBA that's from France?”
Here’s the short answer: Yes. And frankly, we’re already seeing it happen in real time.
The Hype Was Real - And Somehow, Wemby’s Exceeding It
Let’s rewind for a second. Has there ever been an international player who entered the league with the kind of generational buzz that followed Wembanyama?
Not even close. Before he even played an NBA minute, legends were calling him a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
He earned the nickname “The Alien” for a reason - a 7-footer with guard skills, elite shot-blocking instincts, and a basketball IQ that belies his age.
He wasn’t just hyped. He was historic before he stepped on an NBA floor.
Now fast-forward to today. Wemby has not only lived up to the billing - he’s surpassed it.
His jersey is already outselling most of the league’s biggest stars. According to the NBA’s latest merchandise rankings, he’s fifth in jersey sales - ahead of LeBron James.
That’s not just impressive. That’s a shift in the culture.
The Fans Have Spoken - With Their Wallets and Their Screens
Let’s be clear: the “face of the league” isn’t a title handed out in a boardroom. It’s decided by fans - through the jerseys they buy, the games they watch, the players they follow. And in all of those categories, Wemby is dominating.
He’s the fastest player in NBA history to reach one billion views across the league’s social media platforms. One.
Billion. Views.
That’s not just global appeal - that’s global obsession.
And when the Spurs played the Thunder on Christmas Day? That game wasn’t just a ratings win - it was the most-watched NBA Christmas game in 15 years.
Fifteen. That’s a generation of holiday hoops, and Wembanyama just topped them all.
The league knows what it has on its hands. San Antonio was given over 20 nationally televised games this season - and even more have been flexed in since the year began. That doesn’t happen unless the NBA sees the numbers, sees the fan engagement, and sees the future.
Wemby Checks Every Box
It’s not just about stats or highlights - though he has plenty of those. It’s about the full package.
Wembanyama brings the production, the personality, the intrigue, and the international reach. He’s marketable, magnetic, and mature beyond his years.
He’s embraced the pressure, the spotlight, and the responsibility of being the next great ambassador of the game.
And yes, there have been international stars before - Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon, Manu Ginóbili, to name a few - but none entered the league with this level of anticipation and managed to deliver this quickly on every front.
The Moment Is Now
LeBron James is heading into the twilight of his career. The league is in a transitional era, and the spotlight is looking for its next permanent home. Wemby’s not just in the conversation - he’s leading it.
So when Draymond asks whether the face of the NBA can be from France, the answer is already playing out across arenas, screens, and social feeds worldwide. The fans have made their choice. The league has made its move.
Victor Wembanyama is the face of the NBA - and he’s just getting started.