LeBron James is already 39 and counting and his time in the league is coming to an end in the next few seasons. He's been the face of the league for close to a decade now but soon, it'll be time to crown a new face. Who are the leading candidates?

Nikola Jokic

Why he can: Jokic is probably the best player in the world at the moment. He's already gotten a championship and two MVPs and should continue to be competing for titles and MVPs for years to come.

Why he can't: Jokic doesn't really have the big personality of other faces of the league like MJ and Kobe. He also has a "boring playstyle" that a lot of people don't like. He seems more like a Tim Duncan player who will just let his play back him up and kind of stay away from that big spotlight.

Joel Embiid

Why he can: Embiid is probably the favorite to win his second MVP this year. This Sixers team might finally be legit and he'll have Tyrese Maxey by his side for years to come. If he can get a ring he will be arguably the best player in the world and make a great case to be the face of the league.

Why he can't: Embiid has continued to fail in the playoffs year after year. We have yet to see him lead this Sixers team to the promise land. If he can't perform on the biggest stage then he simply cannot be the face of the league. He’s also the oldest of the 5.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Why he can: Giannis is one of the most well rounded players in the league. He’s arguably the most versatile defender in the league and is elite offensively as well. He’s got a likable personality and has already won a title and should be competing for years to come.

Why he can't: By the time LeBron is out of the league, Giannis will be past 30. The other stars on this Bucks team are also getting older so their championship window may be closing soon. If he stays in Milwaukee, he might not win another ring.

Luka Doncic

Why he can: Luka is the youngest of the 5. His Mavericks are finally starting to look up. He’s probably got the highest upside out of the 5 mentioned and is the most explosive scorer. His offensive game is extremely complete.

Why he can’t: The Mavericks might not be able to win a ring. Unlike with Embiid, Luka’s played well in the playoffs but the supporting cast has never been good enough to push them over the hump. If the Mavericks don’t make improvements, he may finish his career ringless.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Why he can: SGA is still very young. The Thunder are playing great right now and are way ahead of future. He has great young teammates around him and they still have an arsenal of picks to trade and improve the team.

Why he can’t: He’s probably slightly less popular than the other 4 but that can likely change. He plays in a small market in OKC. He might get out-shadowed by the other guys since they’re kind of a step ahead of him.

Others:

I only had 6 options on the poll but here are some others that definitely have a chance.

Victor Wembanyama

Why he can: He has the highest ceiling out of anyone in the NBA. He has one of the greatest coaches to ever do it teaching him. The Spurs have already given him the keys to the offense.

Why he can’t: The Spurs still have a long way to go before they’re true contenders. Wemby is still inconsistent and not a true superstar yet. We’ve seen early picks with a lot of hype fall apart due to expectations.

Anthony Edwards

Why he can: Ant has taken major leaps this year and solidified himself as a superstar in the league. The Timberwolves are finally looking dangerous and he might get his first chance at a ring. He has a very exciting playstyle with poster dunks which will get fans behind him.

Why he can’t: He’s still very young and not always the best player on his own team with guys like KAT taking over at times. We’re not sure if this TWolves team is legit or if they can keep it up longterm.

Jayson Tatum

Why he can: He’s an established superstar at this point but still decently young. He’s on the best team in the league who should be competing for years to come. He plays for arguably the biggest franchise which’ll only lead to more media hype.

Why he can’t: He arguably wasn’t even the best player on his own team during the finals versus the Warriors. He’s come close to winning rings in recent years but has failed to finish the job. If he can’t win a ring soon, people will start to get frustrated.

Honorable mentions: Paolo Banchero, Ja Morant, Devin Booker, Zion Williamson