This week, 58 basketball players will reach the highest level of the sport when they are selected in the 2023 NBA draft. And when we look up in about a decade, there’s a good chance that at least a couple of those players are superstars in the league (think Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard from the 2012 draft); a handful may be All-Stars (Bradley Beal from that same class); some will become solid pros who stick around long enough to earn nine figures worth of salary (Harrison Barnes), while others will pass through without making a memorable impact (Royce White); and a few may never actually play a minute in the NBA (Izzet Turkyilmaz).

But whether they shine or stagnate in the NBA, whether they win championships or never step onto the big stage of the playoffs, each and every one of them can become a role model.

Pro athletes don’t have to be legends in order for young people to look up to them. Sure, Victor Wembanyama — the 7-foot-Something phenom from France who will be the first pick in this draft and will be the face of the San Antonio Spurs franchise until further notice — is going to have more admirers than most (if not all) of his 2023 rookie classmates. But every NBA draft pick, from the first to the 58th, has a backstory, an alma mater, and a hometown. And every one of those hometowns and high schools is full of kids who see that pro ballplayer as someone who came from where they came from and made it all the way to the NBA. And those kids might look at those ballplayers as examples of not only how to play their game, but also how to live their life.

As far back as Charles Barkley‘s classic “I Am Not a Role Model” Nike ad from the early 1990s, a debate has been waged about the athlete as a role model.

“Parents should be role models” was one of Barkley’s lines. No major objection there. Most will agree that a young person should first and foremost be able to look toward the adults closest to them for guidance: family, teachers, coaches — those whom they actually interact with daily and directly. But it’s only natural for young people to idolize celebrities: athletes, entertainers, influencers and the like. They’re (usually) rich, famous, and talented. What kid doesn’t want to grow up to be that?

Barkley also said that his athletic talent “doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” Again, no objection. That wasn’t what anyone (who’s reasonable) was looking for in 1993, and it isn’t what anyone (who’s reasonable) is looking for in 2023. The athlete-as-role-model debate isn’t about athletes being de facto parents. It’s about setting a good example; about leaving footprints that parents wouldn’t mind their kids following.

It’s a path that every member of the 2023 NBA draft class is capable of carving.

The concept of the role model is prevalent in Islam.

In an essay posted on TheDeenShow.com, Aisha Stacey writes, “Islamic history is peppered with amazing role models — men, women and children — from whom we learn how to be great mothers, fathers, teachers, friends, students, etc. Positive displays of good morals and manners, determination, will power, and high ethical standards help others emulate these positive attributes.”

The prophets of Islam (25 of which are mentioned in the Quran) were appointed by Allah to not only share the religion but also serve as examples of how a Muslim should behave; young and older Muslims alike. Many of those closest to the prophets, i.e., their companions and followers and family, can also be regarded as role models. Prophet Muhammad, the last messenger of Islam, is the quintessential Muslim role model. Stacey writes that Muhammad “lived and breathed all that the Quran teaches.”

Around the time I converted to Islam, I heard something that stuck with me: “Be the Muslim you want to meet.” It was encouragement to be a role model for other Muslims, as well as for any non-Muslim who is interested or curious about the religion.

Intentionality is always helpful for those who take on the responsibility of being a role model. An individual can be overflowing with great qualities, but it often takes a real effort to make sure those qualities are seen — especially by those who may not catch their more subtle applications.

Pro athletes have the platform to showcase a lot of great qualities without even trying to be role models. By simply being good at their job, they can demonstrate how to bounce back from adversity; how to overcome obstacles; the tangible results of working and studying hard; the payoff of dedication to one’s craft; effective leadership; and sacrifice for others who depend on them, to name a few. Entire books have been written full of, or based on, athletes’ motivational quotes, mottos, and mindsets that fans use in their everyday lives. Somewhere out there is a man who met his wife thanks to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky‘s line, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” When NBA icon Kobe Bryant died in 2020, tributes poured in from fans who credited Kobe’s trademark “Mamba Mentality” with helping them succeed in their careers, in school, and in their family life.

Whether young people will use athletes as role models isn’t really up for debate. They will. The actual question is whether athletes, knowing this, should feel obligated to embrace that role-model position and be expected to conduct themselves accordingly.

Pro athletes know they’re being followed. How exactly do they want to lead?