Stephen A. Smith comments that Jalen Brunson has had an outsized impact on the NBA, arguing he has “literally saved” the league from evolving in a way that would be dominated by Victor Wembanyama. According to the accounts, Smith frames Brunson as a “hero,” suggesting Brunson’s performances and leadership help keep the league’s center of gravity from shifting too strongly toward a Wembanyama-centric future.

The reports describe Smith’s view as a contrast between Brunson’s current influence and Wembanyama’s potential to reshape the league’s style and attention. While the coverage does not provide detailed evidence, statistics, or specific games in these excerpts, it consistently presents Smith’s core message: that Brunson’s role is significant enough, in Smith’s opinion, to meaningfully alter the trajectory of the NBA’s evolution.

Overall, the sources convey the same idea and characterization from Smith, with no additional competing facts or perspectives included in the provided material.