Quote:
Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages
as a hobby outsider when it comes to current NBA....
what will Wemby do that the other two Spurs HOF Centers didnt?
i ask because the hobby does not care about DRob (understandable given his playing days period), and Duncan played through the end of Michaels career, mirrored Kobe's and through LeBrons.
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To answer your question, the answer is in marketability. Robinson and Duncan were both somewhat reclusive (especially Duncan), not as marketable (though they tried with Robinson), and overshadowed by others in the league.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, is already a global sensation and being pushed as a face of the league (and a nation, frankly). That can certainly change, but for now it's not just the NBA and Nike prioritizing this guy, it's brands like Louis Vitton and, more importantly, fans. Wemby is #4 in jersey sales in 2024 behind Curry, Tatum and Bron (one of either Curry or Lebron has held the top spot on this list every year since 2015, which is as far back as I could find a ranking). People want to point to how Jokic doesn't have the hobby value... Jokic is 14th on that list. Hype + Performance + is what drives the hobby, and so far Wemby has both. He'll he helped by pushing his team to success, though I'd argue that isn't as necessary. It certainly hasn't held back Mike Trout from being a hobby success.