Discussion
Stephen A.’s reasons why players don’t want to be the face of the NBA 😯 | First Take
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Vincent Goodwill discuss the face of the NBA. 0:00 How important is it? 4:30 Avoiding being the face? 9:00 Impact off the court 13:00 LeBron as the face of the league ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: #ESPN #NBA #FirstTake
@Muhammad.AlMasjid.Musafir
February 17, 2026 at 9:33 pm
Shaq and kobe did 3peat i think they were going for four 7:50
@hulioortiz6988
February 17, 2026 at 9:33 pm
I know he’s in a small market but dude in Philly should be the face, he gets into no trouble, super skilled. They dont market him. Im a Celtics fan but dude in philly a killa
@herman6100
February 17, 2026 at 9:33 pm
Exactly what I said before. Yall can talk about LBJ but who’s next? I really think the NBA just might hit all time lows in the coming years
@stephensmelley2939
February 17, 2026 at 9:37 pm
The logo is just fine!
@nposeofficial2153
February 17, 2026 at 9:42 pm
Shump criminally underrated and can carry this show better everybody SaS aside
@jameswilliams7725
February 17, 2026 at 9:43 pm
Why do they have to care what the old dudes think
@Valorant_Dem0n97
February 17, 2026 at 9:46 pm
There’s no face in the league anymore because there’s too many good players bro lol
@Himji-Winsmoke
February 17, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Jordan never said he wanted to be the face. He became it by winning.
@bigbates2133
February 17, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Nobody is gonna say it so I will. Great take by Iman. Didn’t know he could talk about the game this way. Keep it up brother 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
@K.A.W.K.skipper
February 17, 2026 at 9:58 pm
🤣🤣🤣these folks see the hate Lebron get they don’t want that pressure of having to win every year even if they play till 40 people happy to see them lose 🤣🤣🤣nobody wants to deal with that people making up stories and videos about you with A.I 🤣🤣🤣it’s to much for the brain
@sharifeady6834
February 17, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Shump is 100% right
@adejesus6214
February 17, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Nobody wants to be criticized for everything and compared to lies about the 90s. They saw how guys like this treated the face of the league.
@sharifeady6834
February 17, 2026 at 10:04 pm
SAS is correct about the logo
@leonharris4750
February 17, 2026 at 10:04 pm
This mf can’t help himself. Every comparison was LBJ, yall stupid for not picking up on it
@ShockWaveTruth
February 17, 2026 at 10:07 pm
SAS the last 16 yrs you help contribute to the very toxic media that players resent and run from!
@core45
February 17, 2026 at 10:10 pm
No one cares
@fistandpen2505
February 17, 2026 at 10:12 pm
Jokic is the best player, multiple time MVP and recent championship. Why don’t y’all force him to be the face of the league so we can be done with this stupi6 conversation. The NBA media has kille6 yet another good angle of the game.
@kyngdarius774
February 17, 2026 at 10:12 pm
No we blame ppl like SAS and the media tearing down athletes. That’s why they don’t want to sign up for the face of the league
@buddyboy4438
February 17, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Its simple .. Media will compare you to MJ * not just one of the most famous athletes ever but one of the most famour MAN ever* Billionaire … etc etc
Super high expectations.
@buddyboy4438
February 17, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Kobe definitely grabbed the face of the league by the horns .. DWade before all the injuries as well.
@fistandpen2505
February 17, 2026 at 10:17 pm
Yesterday: the All-star game is not great bc you can’t trust Lebron and Steph etc. to be professional
Today: you can trust Lebron and Steph to be professional but not this new generation that’s why no one wants to be the face…
SAS today: players don’t want it which is what the old guard resents
Lebron yesterday: I love everything about ANT on the court, off the court, he has a friend and supporter in me for life.
@TheOhNoChronicles
February 17, 2026 at 10:18 pm
Where they keep saying the average salary is 60 per year! 🤣🤣🤣 Nobody looks at the average business around them? None of these restaurants supermarkets gas stations stores any of these places pay even 25k per year and they make up most of the jobs around us 😫😭
@Dolph_Loco
February 17, 2026 at 10:28 pm
you cant go to the strip club and sleep with OF models if youre the face of the league
@soiceygang6649
February 17, 2026 at 10:30 pm
It’s not gonna be another face of the league
@mayormccheese3786
February 17, 2026 at 10:30 pm
Stephen A literally made a career for being a “thumb thug”