Stephen A. Smith (Photo by Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
The NBA has long been known as a global league, with some of the best basketball talents coming from all over the world. While American stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant continue to dominate, international players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic have become some of the league’s biggest attractions.

However, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has a different perspective. On Tuesday’s episode of First Take, Smith shared his belief that an international player cannot be the face of the NBA despite their global influence.

“My personal opinion is I don’t believe an international player can be the face of the NBA. I know they’re global iconic figures; their popularity extends globally. But the NBA is an American-born sport. And it needs to resonate in America,” Smith said.

“And if it doesn’t resonate in America, then it’s not gonna matter to America how you resonate beyond. That’s how I think about it, um, not to say they can’t be popular or what have you, but I think about it that way,” he added.

NBA Fans Slam Stephen A. Smith For His Controversial Take

Stephen A. Smith thinks while international players are highly respected and admired, the league’s core audience remains in the United States. Stephen A. Smith believes that for a player to truly be the face of the NBA, they must connect deeply with American fans.

However, Smith’s comments sparked widespread debate among NBA fans. Critics argued that in today’s game, nationality does not dictate marketability. They pointed to the dominance of players like Doncic, SGA, and Victor Wembanyama as proof that international players can indeed lead the league.

Apart from today’s international players, players like Dirk Nowitzki and Hakeem Olajuwon also had massive impacts on the NBA. Hence, many believe that as the league continues to grow globally, the idea of the “face of the NBA” may no longer be restricted to American-born players.