By Eric.Fritts | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-01-22 00:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
随着NBA球星逐渐老去，谁将挺身而出，开创属于自己的时代？答案显而易见。
出于种种原因（尽管这些原因有待商榷），电视收视率一直是围绕NBA讨论的热点话题。关于收视率下降原因的广泛讨论，使联盟和媒体陷入了一个品牌价值不断被侵蚀的恶性循环，感觉就像陷入了泥潭。而且，无论原因是什么，收视率下滑并不是什么新鲜事。这对联盟来说是一个持续关注的问题，偶尔会重新浮出水面，但最终都会被大多数人认同的终极解决方案所平息：下一个超级巨星。
NBA是一个球星驱动的联盟，这早已不是秘密。由于场上只有10名球员，个人的影响力比其他运动要大得多。随着前一个时代的球星逐渐走向职业生涯的末期，很多人都在猜测谁将填补这个空缺。这样的猜测是没有必要的。答案再明显不过了。
他就是维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)。
为了消除任何不确定性，只需看看他的数据。就原始数据平均值而言，他目前场均得到24.7分、10.7个篮板、3.7次助攻和4次盖帽。根据cleaningtheglass.com的数据，当文班亚马在场时，马刺队每百回合净胜16.4分。即便他不是所有其他高阶数据统计中的前五名，也距离前五名不远了。
从观赏性来看，没有比他更令人惊叹的球员了。文班亚马的表现总是超出人们对他进入联盟时就已经很高的期望。无论是Shamgod胯下运球、logo三分线上的单脚投篮，还是在篮筐下用盖帽摧毁对手的灵魂，文班亚马都在展现着人们认为不可能的动作。
在他第二个赛季进行到一半的时候，他正走在通往年度最佳阵容和年度最佳防守球员的道路上。如果他在21岁时就出现在一些MVP的选票上，也不应该让人感到震惊。他不是一个正在成为超级巨星的球员；按照这些标准，他已经是一位超级巨星了。这个联盟的未来，就看他如何把握。
那么其他方面呢？他在球场上表现出色，但他的市场价值如何呢？他独特的身材可能会让球迷难以支持他，这是有可能的。这并非完全没有先例。有时，球员的身材会对他们的市场推广起到一定作用。当球员在某种程度上让人感觉难以产生共鸣时，就会出现脱节。
过去，一些球星之所以能引起球迷的共鸣，是因为他们看起来很“普通”。阿伦·艾弗森(Allen Iverson)和斯蒂芬·库里(Steph Curry)在做着令人惊叹的事情，但他们可以融入人群中。这有助于他们扩大影响力，因为孩子们不必非得有七英尺高才能成为NBA巨星。然而，这并不是身材的唯一优势。文班亚马的受欢迎程度并非 尽管 他的外貌，而是 因为 他的外貌。作为一个巨人中的巨人，但他却拥有着与我们常规预期相悖的协调性，他成功地克服了难以产生共鸣的难题。他不符合任何一种模式，与艾弗森和库里站在了光谱的另一端，这也推动了他的受欢迎程度。作为独一无二的存在，文班亚马正在开辟新的天地，这激励着每个人。
但这是否转化成了真正可衡量的市场价值？看看球迷们的想法：在新秀赛季，他的球衣销量排名第四。排在他前面的只有勒布朗·詹姆斯(LeBron James)、库里和杰森·塔图姆(Jayson Tatum)，他们都赢得过或即将赢得总冠军、MVP，或两者兼得。根据最新报道，文班在全明星投票中获得了220万张球迷选票，位列西部第四。排在他前面的西部球员（詹姆斯、尼古拉·约基奇(Nikola Jokic)、凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant)）都拥有联盟MVP、总决赛MVP和总冠军，其中最年轻的约基奇也比他大了近九岁。
展望不久的将来，毫无疑问，文班是联盟的下一个超级巨星。联盟的未来属于身穿银黑相间1号球衣的球员。如果球迷或媒体有任何疑问，那不是他的问题，而是联盟的问题。如果NBA在兜售这场硬木球场上最好的表演的门票（无论是字面意义上的还是象征意义上的）方面存在问题，那么他们就不是收视率的问题，而是营销问题。NBA已经收到了一份白银托盘上的黄金礼物，现在就看他们如何把它摆上餐桌了。
点击查看原文：Victor Wembanayama can be the NBA’s golden goose
Victor Wembanayama can be the NBA’s golden goose
As the NBA’s stars are starting to age out, who will step up and make this league their own? It should be obvious.
For reasons that are debatable, television ratings have been a major talking point surrounding the NBA. The discussion at large of trying to uncover why ratings have dropped has put the league and media in a self-fulfilling cycle of brand erosion that feels rather stuck in the mud. And regardless of the reasoning, ratings slumps is not a new phenomenon. This is a topic of concern for the league on a running basis, resurfacing occasionally only to be eventually quelled by what most agree is the ultimate solution: the next superstar.
It’s no secret the NBA is a star-driven league. With only 10 players on the court at once, individuals carry much more weight than in other sports. As the previous era’s stars have now started to move toward the horizon, many are speculating as to who will fill the space. Such speculation is not necessary. The answer could not be more obvious.
It’s Victor Wembanyama.
To assuage any uncertainty, simply take a look at the resume. In terms of raw number averages, he’s currently producing 24.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 4 blocks. The Spurs are plus 16.4 points per 100 possessions with him on the court, per cleaningtheglass.com. If he isn’t top 5 in every other all-in-one advanced stat, he’s knocking on the door.
Putting him to the eye test, there isn’t a more amazing player to watch. Routinely, Wembanyama is outperforming what were already high expectations coming into the league. Whether that’s a Shamgod crossover, a one-footed-three from the logo, or exorcising souls with his blocks at the rim, Wembanyama is pulling off moves, not thought to be possible.
Halfway through his second season, he is on track to finish the year on an All-NBA team and Defensive Player of the Year. And no one should be shocked if he shows up on some MVP ballots at only 21 years old. This isn’t a player on his way to becoming a superstar; by these metrics, he already is. The Association is his to lose.
So what about everything else? He’s fantastic on the court, but could there be a question about his marketability? It’s possible that his unique stature may make it difficult for fans to root for him. That wouldn’t be completely unheard of. At times a player’s size can play a role in their marketing. There can be a disconnect when players feel unrelatable on a certain level.
In the past, some stars could actually strike a chord with fans because they looked “normal.” Allen Iverson and Steph Curry were (are) doing amazing things but could blend in with a crowd. This helped their influence as kids didn’t have to be seven feet tall to be an NBA superstar. However, that isn’t the only advantage size can have. Wembanyama has found popularity not in spite of his appearance, but because of it. As a giant among giants but with coordination that deceives our standard set of expectations, he manages to overcome difficulties of relatability. He doesn’t fit into a box, standing on the other side of the spectrum from Iverson and Curry, which then drives his popularity. As a one-of-one, Wembanyama is treading new ground, something that excites and inspires everyone.
But has that turned into real measurable marketability? Take a look at what the fans think: In his rookie season, he finished 4th in jersey sales. The only three above him were LeBron James, Curry, and Jayson Tatum, all of which whom won or went on to win championships, MVPs, or both. As of last reporting, Wembayama has 2.2 million fan All-Star votes, 4th in the West. Those placed above him in the conference (James, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant) all have league MVPs, Finals MVPs, and Championships, the youngest of which — Jokic — is almost nine years his senior.
Looking into the very near future, there is no question as to who the next superstar of the league is. The future of the league wears a silver and black number one jersey. If there’s any doubt amongst fans or the media, that’s not his problem, that’s the league’s. If the NBA has a problem selling literal and proverbial tickets to the best show on hardwood, they don’t have a ratings problem. They have a marketing problem. The NBA has been gifted gold on a silver platter, now it’s up to them to bring it to the table.
By Eric.Fritts, via Pounding The Rock