Why is Shai being overlooked as the "face of the league"

[Karate Diop]

It's hard to be the face of the league and be one of the worst floppers in the league...

[ImmortalD24]

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No statement dunks.. No regard for human life moments.. there is no suspense that he'll just drive and dunk on the entire team at any given notice. At his size we kinda expect that from a wing player.

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His dunk package only consists of basic two handers

[Blazing_royale]

He got the Kawhi swagger

[ImmortalD24]

Why are people making small market excuses? If you're a generational talent it doesn't matter small market or not. In fact there's more pressure in a place like LA - see Dwight Howard and others. Also of course Kevin Durant just not too long ago was in the same city and he was unquestionably one the face of the league with a prime LeBron and older Kobe still in the league.

[TheAlchemist]

Same reason why Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, and Luka aren’t.

He’s not American.

[Upperclass]

First 2 games will tell you who's the face of the league

[LethalRangee]

Have you seen the guy play? He foul baits almost every offensive possession and accidentally trips 50 times a game. It physically hurts to watch him.

[picko]

We seem to act like 'face of the league' is something that we choose, rather than it just happening. If you have to ask 'are they the face of the league?' or 'should they be the face of the league' then they are absolutely not 'the face of the league'.

SGA isn't being overlooked as the 'face of the league'. He just isn't the 'face of the league'. If he had the right type of game and charisma and success, then he'd already have been elevated. In much the same manner than Bird and Magic, then Jordan, and eventually LeBron, Curry and Durant were. For whatever reason - like so many other stars - he doesn't have the cut through to become synonymous with the league.

[cornchip]

I don't think the Canadian part plays any major role other than he wasn't built up from a young age. You wouldn't know he was Canadian unless somebody told you.

The main answer is that he's only been an elite player for 3 years. Luka was hyped since he entered the NBA. Ant was a brash #1 pick. SGA made his first All-Star team two years ago, was only considered a really top player last year, and this year was really his breakout.

If he wins the NBA title this year, be prepared to see his face plastered everywhere.

[Statlanta]

Giannis is borderline face of the league, but truthfully Giannis is proof that a small market will prevent a player from being face of the league. Giannis is incredibly likeable, he’s a family man, humble background, and yet people forget he exists because of the Milwaukee factor.

I think you oversell Antetokoumnpo. He has too many nationalities as he's Nigerian and Greek. He has an accent when he does press conferences. His last name is almost always mis-spelled or mis-pronounced to the point people stop trying just like how your post doesn't even mention his full name. He's also 6"10" tall, a death knell for relatability to the common man. He plays at a height that less than 2% of the population will reach.

I don't think it's just Milwaukee that's stopping him when Kevin Durant was more famous than both Giannis and Shai in the same market. I also don't think putting him in New York, Miami or Los Angeles magically makes this the Giannis era.

[Statlanta]

He was never expected to be good. Gilgeous Alexander played in Los Angeles and he still wasn't treated like a Kobe Bryant star ready to break out.

He's never compared to Michael Jordan or LeBron James because despite being 6'6' he doesn't play like either so he doesn't get the media boost from being compared to them constantly like Edwards.

He is Canadian so he never had the full American media microscope under him even with today's social media market.

He plays for Oklahoma City, basically NBA Siberia in terms of media coverage.

He's not generationally good at anything: he's not a all time great shooter, dunker, passer, dribbler so he get's nothing there(seriously where would you put Gilgeous Alexander on All-Star Saturday Night: Skills Contest?)

Now to put the bow on it, he gets skinny man privileges from the refs because of his frame. We know he drives a lot and he does not get a disproportionate amount of FTs but the calls he does get come from skinny man reactions.

[MoneyTalks41890]

He's not generationally good at anything: he's not a all time great shooter, dunker, passer, dribbler so he get's nothing there(seriously where would you put Gilgeous Alexander on All-Star Saturday Night: Skills Contest?)

Now to put the bow on it, he gets skinny man privileges from the refs because of his frame. We know he drives a lot and he does not get a disproportionate amount of FTs but the calls he does get come from skinny man reactions.

He has a worse FTr than Trae.

He’s a generational mid range shooter

[sodmoraes]

It´s hard to be the face of the league when you look like Scooby Doo..

[Onus]

This can’t be a serious take. People really want a foul merchant to be the face of the NBA. The next generation of superstar will be working on falling rather than any other basketball skill.

[playoffs]

Historically, every "face of the league" became the FOTL after, or en route to, winning multiple championship as the main guy. Magic/Kareem and Bird were the faces of the league in the 80s while splitting that decade's rings between them. Then it was Jordan. Then it was Shaq and Kobe. Then it was LeBron, and later also Steph. All of these players dominated for multiple years and won multiple championships. It's harder to do today because of the CBA and almost extreme parity, but it is what it is. It's not about being American or a foreigner. If Luka wins 2-3 consecutive championships as a Laker, he will become the FOTL. If Shai wins 2-3 with the Thunder, it will be him. Joker was actually on his way to becoming the FOTL, but failed to win more than one so far. One ring won't do it, but multiples absolutely will.

[WiggOuts]

"Face of the League" is a title exclusively reserved for an American player. It was the coping mechanism after the realization that no American could realistically be called the best player

[The Big O]

Has a gimmicky game, lame personality- nothing inspiring about the guy.

[stuporman]

You want face of the league, I give you face of the league...

[Patches Perry]

He reminds me a bit of Tim Duncan. Quiet, methodical, consistent, but not going to dunk on anyone or make a bunch of sportscenter highlights. It also takes a little more of an involved fan to really appreciate his footwork and skill between the lines.

I also think face of the league is mostly a manufactured title. The league wants to keep eggs in every basket. If you make a guy the face of the league and he gets hurt or doesn't get past the 1st round, you're signaling to fans that the rest of the playoffs won't be relevant.

[Bobbymcgee]

10/27 FG
11/14 FT

SGA made more FT than FG in game 1. That is why he will never be the face of the league.