Charles Barkley is not ready to label San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama as the “face of the league” just yet. The NBA Hall of Famer believes such titles must be earned, and according to Barkley, Wembanyama has not yet achieved that status. During TNT’s “Tip-Off” show on Thursday night, Barkley expressed his frustration with those who refer to the young French player as the “face of the league.”
“I saw some guys on another network the other day talking about the ‘face of the league,’ and I was so annoyed,” Barkley stated. He emphasized that the title is not something that can simply be given. “You don’t give anybody ‘the face of the league.’ Am I right, Shaq?” he asked his co-host, fellow Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. Barkley noted that previous stars like Shaq, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry earned that title through their performances.
Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year, was a strong contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award until it was announced that he would likely miss the remainder of the regular season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. He was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game, and he made history as the first NBA player to attempt 403 three-pointers and block 176 shots in a single season before the All-Star break.
Due to the league’s 65-game eligibility rule for end-of-season awards, Wembanyama is now ineligible for most accolades, having played only 46 games this season.