10 NBA Players Who Were Briefly the Face of a Franchise

In the NBA, sometimes it only takes a breakout season or a buzzy playoff run to be crowned “the guy.” Teams slap your face on the media guide, fans buy your jersey, and just like that—you’re the face of the franchise.

But staying the face? That’s the hard part. These ten players had their moment in the sun, looked like the future… and then the torch got passed just as fast as it was handed to them.

10. Emmanuel Mudiay – Denver Nuggets

Mudiay was hyped as Denver’s point guard of the future, with size, speed, and international flair. But once Jamal Murray came to town, Mudiay’s moment was over before it really started.

9. Tyreke Evans – Sacramento Kings

Evans had a monster rookie year and instantly became Sacramento’s most exciting player in years. But his game never really evolved, and the Kings quickly moved on from the “future star” label.

8. Jeremy Lin – New York Knicks

For a few magical weeks in 2012, Linsanity was everywhere—he was the toast of New York and the face of the league’s hottest storyline. But after that flash, injuries and inconsistency dimmed the spotlight.

7. D’Angelo Russell – Brooklyn Nets

D-Lo’s All-Star season in Brooklyn had fans thinking he was the centerpiece of a new era. Then Kyrie Irving arrived, and Russell was shipped out like last season’s sneakers.

6. Isaiah Thomas – Boston Celtics

IT went from role player to Boston legend in the blink of an eye, leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals and becoming their emotional leader. Then came a hip injury and a cold-hearted trade for Kyrie.

5. Michael Carter-Williams – Philadelphia 76ers

MCW looked like the future of Philly basketball after a triple-double in his debut and a Rookie of the Year award. But the Process had other plans, and he was traded just as quickly as he arrived.

4. Baron Davis – New Orleans Hornets

Baron Davis was the heart and soul of the early-2000s Hornets, leading them with flair and power. But injuries and a quick change of scenery ended his franchise-star run in a hurry.

3. Brandon Jennings – Milwaukee Bucks

Jennings dropped 55 points in his seventh NBA game and instantly became Milwaukee’s next big thing. But he never reached that level again, and his time as the face of the franchise faded fast.

2. Andrew Wiggins – Minnesota Timberwolves

Wiggins was supposed to be the savior in Minnesota after being the No. 1 pick and landing in the Love trade. But inconsistency and unmet expectations led to a quiet exit when the Wolves pivoted to Karl-Anthony Towns.

1. John Wall – Washington Wizards

Wall was the face of the Wizards for nearly a decade, but his peak came and went before the team could build a real contender. Injuries and roster resets made his spotlight fade fast, despite a flashy start and franchise hopes pinned on him.