There has been plenty of debate over who should be declared the face of the NBA.

Anthony Edwards admitted he doesn’t want the crown and LeBron James agreed with his reasoning, hitting out at the relentless criticism.

Those comments rubbed ESPN analyst Stephen A .Smith the wrong way, leading to a five-minute rant.

“First of all, there’s a whole bunch of players that cover the league. They’re former players,” said the First Take co-host.

“They’re not just reporters, they’re former players. Former big-time players, former Hall of Fame players, they talk about the league too. Is everything negative?

“When he talks about people covering the league, we know he’s talking about me… and he’s not just talking about people like me, he talked about Inside the NBA.”

LeBron has since hit back at Smith, with the debate getting fierce.

Former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants — drafted 14th overall in 2005 — thinks he has the answer to the question that set it all off. Caitlin Clark.

The WNBA‘s Rookie of the Year has a huge profile and despite endless negativity from some fans fans, former players, and reporters, continues to hold her head up high as a figurehead for women everywhere.

“THE FACE OF THE NBA IS CAITLIN CLARK!!! Yea I said it!!!!,” McCants wrote on X. “She has handled criticism better than the people you consider THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!!! @CaitlinClark22 your the GOAT!!!”

Clark is bidding to build on her brilliant first year as a pro and is already making waves.

Tickets for the Indiana Fever star’s preseason game against Brazil in Iowa City sold out in 40 minutes. The cheapest seats were going for $715.

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McCants added: “Like I said THE FACE OF THE NBA!!! This is the metric. Sold out in minutes. Preseason!!!

“We witness her get blitz by peers, alumni, randoms, politicians, and above all else women!! She never ran from the challenge. Accepted it and rose above it! Goat!”

A follower pointed out that Clark turned down the chance to face Steph Curry in a 3-point contest that would have brought life to All-Star weekend.

“And she denied the nba to use her to elevate them,” they wrote.

“Facts,” replied McCants and it is hard to argue — there is no current NBA star who would bring more interest taking on Curry from beyond the arc.

Fans were, of course, split on what is a hugely divisive topic.

“She really does handle media better than anybody in the W or NBA. Watch ppl in these comments about to come at her just bc you mentioned her name,” wrote one.

“You’ve always been a caitlin clark truther. Never glaze just straight facts,” added another.

“CC is the face because she captured people’s imagination,” wrote a third.

“Talk to us about her being the face 10 years from now. You’ve witnessed the greatness of LeBron for 2 decades. Let’s let CC grow into the major shoes,” argued a fourth.

“I love the wnba but they aren’t there yet.. They still have lots of work to do.. CC will be the face she has popularized it forsure more then what it was.. no matter how big the wnba gets they will never be bigger then the nba,” suggested another.

“Rashad, just stop dude. It’s no way you still crave attention this bad. Come on, you’re 40,” fired back one fan.