Kendrick Perkins declares Spurs' Victor Wembanyama new face of the NBA

Perkins cites Wembanyama's impact and the Spurs' rise as reasons behind his bold proclamation.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins has declared San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama as the new face of the NBA. Perkins pointed to Wembanyama's performance, the Spurs' surge up the Western Conference standings, and the 22-year-old's willingness to embrace the spotlight as central reasons behind his stance.

Why it matters

Wembanyama's rapid rise to stardom and the Spurs' resurgence as an NBA powerhouse have captured the attention of the league and its fans. Perkins' declaration further cements Wembanyama's status as one of the NBA's most promising young talents and a potential face of the league for years to come.

The details

Through 40 games this season, Wembanyama is averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.7 blocks, and one steal per game while shooting 51.1% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range. The Spurs have surged to a 38-16 record, good for the second seed in the Western Conference, and are riding a six-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break.

  • Perkins made his proclamation during a recent broadcast of NBA Today.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

A 22-year-old star player for the San Antonio Spurs who is in his third NBA season and has emerged as one of the league's most promising young talents.

Kendrick Perkins

A former NBA player and current analyst who works for ESPN's NBA coverage.

Adam Silver

The current commissioner of the National Basketball Association.

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What they’re saying

“You think about what the Spurs are doing right now, they check all the boxes: they are playing at an elite level… We didn't give Adam Silver and the NBA a congratulations today. They actually found their new face of the NBA. Yeah, Victor Wembanyama. He's the new face of the NBA and if anybody wants to argue with me, we could argue for hours or days but you're going to lose this argument.”

— Kendrick Perkins, NBA Analyst (ESPN)

“Here's the reason why: when you talk about a guy that's embracing that role and embodying that, he wants that. He checks that box. When you talk about a guy that's going to perform at a high level and do things that we've never seen before, he's going to do that. When you talk about a guy that's going to put butts in the seats – not just at the crib, but in away arenas, he does that.”

— Kendrick Perkins, NBA Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The Spurs will look to continue their strong play and solidify their position in the Western Conference standings as the NBA heads into the All-Star break.

The takeaway

Kendrick Perkins' bold declaration of Victor Wembanyama as the new face of the NBA underscores the 22-year-old's rapid rise to stardom and the Spurs' resurgence as an elite team in the league. Wembanyama's combination of elite production, marketability, and the Spurs' success has positioned him as a potential face of the NBA for years to come.