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Kevin Durant Delivers Blunt Verdict on Next Face of the NBA

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The NBA regular season is back underway, though only two teams have hit the hardwood following the All-Star break. With the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets having made up their rescheduled contest, the rest of the league is now set to return to action.

The Phoneix Suns are headed on the road to take on the San Antonio Spurs, though the road contest won't come on their opposition's home floor.

The Suns are playing the Spurs in Austin, TX, where Kevin Durant played his lone season of college basketball.

The 36-year-old forward getting a homecoming and being able to play in front of Texas Longhorns fans get back to Austin is quite a remarkable moment for the future first-ballot Hall of Fame forward.

Playing against the Spurs, Durant was asked about the next face of the NBA. Many believe one of the next greats is playing in San Antonio actively.

While Victor Wembanyama will miss the rest of his second season with a blood clot in his right shoulder -- a condition the Spurs believe is isolated -- his potential is limitless.

Kevin Durant delivers verdict on the "face of the NBA" conversation

So, who does Durant think will be the face of the NBA as his generation makes their way out of the league?

"'The new face of the NBA'. What does that even mean? I find it hard to understand," Durant said. "Explain it to me… Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama—all these guys, regardless of where they come from, all have the potential to impact basketball culture and its fans. It’s not just one or two guys."

The current state of the NBA is littered with an absurd amount of young talent. Durant acknowledges that and cares more about the culture of basketball rather than labeling any given player the "next face of the NBA."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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