As Curry and LeBron meet, NBA’s next face of the league is TBD

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry and LeBron James, the two defining players of the past 20 years of basketball, met for the 53rd time Saturday night at Chase Center.

For decades, they’ve carried the league on their shoulders, squaring off in some of the most dramatic NBA Finals four years in a row and taking the game to new heights with their personalities and playing excellence.

They’ve got 32 combined All-Star selections, eight rings and four MVP awards. Even at 37 and 40, respectively, they rank first and second in jersey sales this year. Their matchups remain the most anticipated in the sport; the Warriors and Lakers’ Christmas Day game was the most-watched regular season game in five years.

So, what happens to the NBA whenever they’re done? There’s a myriad of talent throughout the NBA, but there has to be at least some concern at NBA headquarters in Manhattan about the topic.

“I think the league’s in a great place with the next generation of stars,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the Warriors-Lakers game. “I do think that there is a significant responsibility for those players, and it’s a burden. It requires a high level of ownership to be one of or the face of the league. Those guys have done it and carried it, and we’re all beneficiaries of that, to be honest with you.”

The “face of the league” concept is nebulous, but meaningful even if it’s hard to define.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the league in the 1980s and Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty made the game more mainstream than ever.

The same year Jordan retired (for good), James came into the league as a teenage phenom. Billed as The Chosen One, he delivered on all the hype and then some.

With that stroke of cosmic luck, the metaphorical baton was passed.

Even with that natural handoff, the league struggled through some lean years in the early 2000s. With as much hand-wringing as today’s style of play gets from the masses, games then were often low-scoring and dependent on isolation ball. Small markets like San Antonio, Detroit and New Jersey made Finals runs.

As Curry and James eventually fade in the next few years, a new superstar will have to emerge. Television ratings this season are slightly down — and that’s with the Warriors and Lakers still relevant.

Nikola Jokic is the best player in the game, but prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Victor Wembanyama is the most jaw-dropping, but he’s only 22 years old and may not truly contend for championships for years. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is vying for an MVP and Joel Embiid has won one. None of those players are American born, which, historically, is a prerequisite for the face of the league moniker.

Jayson Tatum is the best player on the defending champion Boston Celtics, and he ranks third — behind Curry and James — in jersey sales this year. He’s on a historically great career path, but anyone who watched the Netflix series “Starting 5” knows his low-key demeanor may not translate to cultural appeal.

“The reality is you get to be the face of the league when you win, and win at the highest level,” Redick said. “That’s who becomes the face of the league. There are certain players who have won and could be the face of the league, and they don’t want it. And that’s okay. There are certain guys. Look at the history of the NBA, they didn’t want to be the face of the league. That’s okay. The people that want to carry that burden, that responsibility — someone will step up. I have no doubt.”

Until they’re done, Curry and James wear the mantle. It’s probably not even a burden for them — they’re used to it by now.

Notable

– Kyle Anderson returned after missing four games with gluteal bursitis. Lakers wing Rui Hachimura missed the game with left calf soreness. Dorian Finney-Smith started in his place.

– Quinten Post, after two straight productive nights, remained in Golden State’s rotation. The Warriors expect teams to adjust to his floor-spacing skills by defending the two-way rookie with perimeter players.

– Jonathan Kuminga isn’t close to returning from the significant ankle sprain he suffered three weeks ago, Steve Kerr said. Kuminga is out of the walking boot, but still hasn’t done any meaningful on-court work. He has taken stationary shots, but his ankle is still heavily taped as he recovers.