Who comes after Le'Bron?

[Originalman]

It will have to be a group of guys. In an Era of hypebeasts nobody has had close to the hype of Bron. And he fukking lived up to it

Exactly folks not seeing the big picture. The next guy has to keep his nose clean be charismatic, have a bigger than life personality and live up to the hype, have a long career without their body breaking down and be able to carry the league as the face of the league for years and years and years. Thats why kats like Dr. J, Magic, Bird and Lebron are so rare (I will even throw shaq in there). And the reason why there was a void when they left (not lebron yet).

You just can't duplicate that. A few have reached it like Kobe but even his image took a huge L that he never recovered from with the denver situation and the hit to his marketability.

IMO the league and media will take a huge hit. If you look at the modern NBA the 70s to now. There have only been 5 players who have truly carried the league for extended time as the face of the league. Dr. J, Magic, Bird, MJ and Lebron. Thats its. Even then two of those dudes were on the two greatest and historical teams in the league.

So basically only three dudes have been the face of the league that were not on the lakers or celtics.

Folks talk about luka and zion. But neither has proven that they can create the buzz personality wise to bring in casuals. Luka has a strong accident which doesn't help. And zion is very quiet and shy.

 

[Originalman]

This.... Bron energy has been built up for the last 21 years since he was 16.. It can’t be replaced for real from a media standpoint

Not only that will casuals gravitate to website articles and gossip sports shows hot takes about the next guy. I don't think so. I mean the media were talking about lebron and having discussions on him as a 17 year old. Folks keep forgetting to get a total package like lebron (professional, smart, charismatic, stays out of trouble, lives up to and exceeds the hype, career lasts 2 decades without breaking down and on and on and on) was a 1 and a zillion shot.

If the league can't find the next guy they wiill lean on the celtics and lakers to carry the league until the next guy is found.

But that lebron void will be huge.

 

[Luke Cage]

Basically to reach Lebron/MJ/Kobe/Bird/Dr J etc status. You have to be one of the elite of elite players in the league obviously, but you also have to be somewhat articulate for the American media (Think Kobe) or failing that have some level of charm (think Barkley). International players have trouble reaching that height not because of talent but because of the language barrier. Then you have shy or quiet types who can't either because they like Duncan just aren't all that interesting.
Don't really see any young stars right now that fit all that criteria yet. but they may evolve into that.

 

[inndaskKy]

I’m gon post this name just to piss y’all off

Trae Young

OP was talking about the NBA though, not the G League

 

[Diondon]

But he’s fat.

Luka is chubby, slow and flat-footed

 

[Oatmeal]

Y'all just gonna disrespect Devin Booker like that

If he gets out of Phoenix y'all gonna be upset.

 

[SAINT]

TN might have next now that I think about it he’s really the total package

the fact that I have no idea who you are referring to as “TN”, means they don’t

 

[High quality poster]

the fact that I have no idea who you are referring to as “TN”, means they don’t

That’s cause you a fukking casual you don’t watch ball nikka

 

[mbewane]

Like I said in another thread, MJ was already the face of the league when Magic and Bird were still around. Shaq/Kobe/Iverson and them were already extremely popular before MJ retired for the second time. Lebron was the most exciting prospect and was an absolute superstar while those from the generation before him were at their peak. Meaning that up until now we haven't had to wait for the next "face of the league" to emerge. They came in and imposed themselves. But as of now, I don't really see anyone who has that combination of skill, appeal, dominance, highlights and narrative needed to fill the spot. Maybe in a couple years someone will separate himself from the pack though.

 

[Big Boss]

In the real world? Luka

On the Coli? Whichever 1st year player is putting up 25ppg over a 5 game sample size.

 

[Bryan Danielson]

Zion and Lamelo

I thought y’all knew that

 

[SadimirPutin]

Nah. Its not about LeBron as much as the fact the talent in the league is just worse now. After Jordan left the NBA got lucky that Kobe came up right after him. The void now is more about the lack of talent than LeBron being irreplaceable. Keeping it a buck, LeBron isn't even that exciting to watch. Most of the interest he garners is because of the drama surrounding him than the aesthetic appeal of his game.

You really are the definition of mental short bus

 

[24 black mambas]

Bronny

 

[SadimirPutin]

Ultimately though the league shouldn’t be looking for the next “Lebron” in the same way they were looking for the next MJ. They’ve spent 20 years forcing Lebron down our throats as “the goat” only for him to lose 6 finals, it’s a bad look IMO.

Just let these young guys develop in the same manor that the early 2000s stars developed.

The league made people like you watch his games religiously and dap fish on internet forums?

 

[Hey_zeus]

We don't know him yet.