Legendary NBA player George Gervin recently shared a no-nonsense opinion about the current state of the league. His take, while maybe a bit blunt, pointed out a changing of the guard from the stars fans have watched dominate for the past two decades, to the younger era that is starting to take over the league.
For the past few years, the league has been filled with questions about the end of an era, the era of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. A day will come when they no longer share the court with their teammates.
The NBA will continue, and new stars will rise. Just like fans once had to say goodbye to legends like Michael Jordan, the same fate awaits James, Curry and Durant. One day, they’ll step away from the spotlight. They could join the media, like Charles Barkley or Shaquille O’Neal, but they won’t be shattering records or putting on nightly shows anymore.
New names are already starting to take the reins. Players like Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama and Jayson Tatum are stepping into the spotlight as the league’s next faces.
George Gervin Acknowledges New Faces of the NBA
Gervin didn’t sugarcoat anything. He acknowledged the transition and pointed to Wembanyama as a player who could lead the next generation.
Gervin has always supported the San Antonio Spurs and has been one of Wembanyama’s biggest believers. When Wembanyama first entered the league, some questioned whether he would live up to the hype. His rookie year changed that quickly, and he has since become a cornerstone of the Spurs’ future.
“They [the Spurs] got a good nucleus to put something together. You all know, just like how I know, the old era is gone. No LeBron, no Steph, no Durant. They got the young fellas now… Everybody is going to be an ex-player one day,” Gervin said on “Run It Back” on FanDuel TV.
Gervin strongly believes Wembanyama has what it takes to be the face of the NBA, praising his wingspan, skill, maturity and basketball IQ.
. @Spurs legend George Gervin says it’s more important to keep building San Antonio’s young core than trade for a superstar 👀
“The old era is gone. No LeBron, no Steph, no Durant. They got the young fellas now.”@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/lBuSBoof9T
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 13, 2025
As Wembanyama enters his third season, fans will be watching closely to see if he can elevate the Spurs, much like Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton have done with their teams this year.
Nobody expected the Timberwolves to have the season they had. Fans predicted the Lakers or Warriors would dominate the playoffs. Even though they fell short, Edwards impressed everyone with his toughness and fire. He’s already promised to come back stronger next year.
The same story applies to Haliburton and Gilgeous-Alexander. Their teams, the Pacers and Thunder, don’t have the big-market appeal of the Lakers or Warriors, but they’ve shown that grit, chemistry and talent can go a long way in a title chase.
In two or three years, Wembanyama could be right there with them. The passion and drive to reach the top are already there, and with a little support alongside him, he could lead the Spurs back to the promised land.
