For 22 years, the undisputed face of the NBA has been LeBron James.
Drafted with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, James took the league by storm. Since then, James has crafted out a career that puts him in the case for the greatest of all time.
Whether he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers, James has always brought in the views and revenue for the league.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and James’ career is ticking down. Many have questioned who will be the next face of the NBA when James’ time is up.
There are several players who many have looked at to be the heir to the throne.
Luka Doncic is James’ current teammate and he is also the definitive successor to James as the next face of the Lakers.
Doncic’s career skyrocketed from the moment he was drafted. Like James, he immediately energized the organization he was drafted to. Doncic took home the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and led the Mavericks to the playoffs in just his second season.
In 2024, Doncic led the Mavs to their first NBA Finals appearance since their 2011 championship win. Despite the loss, Doncic showed that he can carry a team and quite possibly will them to the promised land in the future.
Now that he is on the Lakers, one of the most successful franchises in all of sports, more eyes will be on the 25-year-old Slovenian superstar.
Since being drafted in 2020 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards has become one of the most charismatic and entertaining stars in the NBA.
Edwards’ explosive play style and highlight reel has caught the attention of many. He has drawn comparisons to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two former faces of the NBA.
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard has already had epic playoff battles with some of the NBA’s best. This includes wins against his childhood hero Kevin Durant and 3-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Edwards is only 23 and he is sure to make more memorable moments in the next decade.
Unlike others on this list, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not shock the league in his first year. The Charlotte Hornets selected Gilgeous-Alexander with the 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and traded him to the LA Clippers.
Gilgeous-Alexander was once again on the move after one season in LA. The Clippers traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.
The former Kentucky guard showed steady improvement each season, until he exploded in the 2022-23 season. He broke out, averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
Since then, Gilgeous-Alexander has been the driving force behind Oklahoma City’s ascent. They have become arguably the best team in the NBA.
Gilgeous-Alexander is currently the favorite to win the 2025 NBA MVP award, which may be his first of many.
Many described Victor Wembanyama as a generational player from the moment the San Antonio Spurs drafted him first overall in 2023.
The 7-foot-3 center from France can do everything on offense and defense. Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in the 2024-25 season.
Wembanyama was the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, but he is now out for the year with a blood clot.
The basketball world hopes that Wembanyama recovers and comes back even stronger.
With LeBron James’ career coming to an end in the near future, these young players will be battling for years to come to see who the next face of the NBA will be.
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