Isiah Thomas questioned why the NBA appears to be positioning Victor Wembanyama as the league’s next face instead of Jalen Brunson, who led the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973.
Speaking on the Crossover Podcast, Thomas compared the situation to his own experience with the Detroit Pistons, saying his teams defeated stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, yet Jordan was still promoted as the NBA’s marquee player.
Thomas argued that the league’s choice of a “face of the league” goes beyond on-court performance, suggesting taller players have historically been favored over smaller guards. He said players under 6-foot-6 often receive less recognition, even when they outperform bigger stars, and believes their accomplishments are frequently undervalued.