*Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas isn’t convinced Victor Wembanyama should automatically be crowned the next face of the NBA.
During a recent appearance on the “Crossover Podcast,” the two-time NBA champion questioned why the league continues to elevate the San Antonio Spurs superstar while Jalen Brunson‘s historic championship season with the New York Knicks receives far less attention.
For Thomas, who also served as a former Knicks general manager, the issue isn’t necessarily about who the best player is.
It’s about who the NBA wants to market.
And he believes that’s a conversation basketball fans have been having for decades.
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Why Is Wembanyama Being Pushed?
The debate began when one of the podcast hosts questioned why Wembanyama appears to be receiving the lion’s share of attention despite Brunson leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973.
“Why are they trying to force it on Wemby?” the host asked. “Jalen Brunson just delivered the first championship in New York since 1973. Why can’t he be the face of the league?”
The timing of the question is significant.
Wembanyama remained one of the NBA’s most discussed players throughout the postseason, despite a series of controversial moments that generated headlines, including foul-related disputes, criticism over physical play, scrutiny surrounding his posture during the national anthem and an unusual conclusion to his final press conference following the Spurs’ NBA Finals loss.
Yet even amid the controversy, Wembanyama continues to be widely viewed as the league’s next global superstar. Thomas suggested there may be a reason for that.
The Michael Jordan Comparison
The Hall of Famer said the discussion reminded him of similar conversations that took place during the Detroit Pistons’ championship era.
“That was the question we was asking in Detroit when we beat Bird, Magic and Jordan, but they made Jordan the face of the league,” Thomas recalled.
The Pistons legend said many in Detroit struggled to understand why Michael Jordan continued to be elevated even as the Pistons repeatedly defeated the Chicago Bulls and other NBA powerhouses.
“Here in Detroit, they were saying, ‘Why can’t I be the face of the league? Why is this one elevated when you see him three, four years in a row beating your face of the league?’”
Thomas’ point wasn’t necessarily that Jordan didn’t deserve the spotlight.
Rather, he suggested that leagues often decide who they want to promote long before championships or wins settle the debate.
Who Gets Chosen Matters
According to Thomas, conversations about the face of the league are often about more than basketball performance.
“When you ask that question, it’s a much deeper question in terms of who they want to be the face of the league, not who’s the best,” Thomas said.
The former Finals MVP argued that public perception, marketability and league priorities frequently influence who becomes the sport’s most visible star.
His comments also reflected a broader belief that some players fit the league’s preferred image more naturally than others.
For Knicks fans, that perspective may resonate after watching Brunson lead New York to one of the most memorable championship runs in franchise history.
Despite the accomplishment, much of the national conversation continues to focus on Wembanyama’s future rather than Brunson’s achievement.
Thomas Says Smaller Players Face A Different Standard
Thomas also revisited an argument he has made throughout much of his career: smaller players rarely receive the same recognition as bigger stars.
“The small guys, we always have to take a step back because what we realize as small people is that it’s a 6-6 and above category,” Thomas said.
The 12-time NBA All-Star, who led Detroit to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990, has long argued that guards are often held to a different standard than physically imposing players.
He expanded on that point by highlighting the advantages bigger athletes naturally possess.
“Because of their genetic gifts, size, and weight, they have an advantage,” Thomas said. “But we have zero advantage. But when we beat them, it’s discounted. When it should be weighted heavily.”
Whether fans agree with Thomas or not, his comments have reignited a debate that extends beyond Wembanyama and Brunson.
Who becomes the face of the NBA has never been determined solely by championships, statistics or even winning.
And according to Thomas, that’s exactly why the conversation continues.
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