Anthony Edwards: The Eventual Face of the NBA?

Published: Monday, March 10, 2025

by Kyle Ferreira

Every league has their recognizable figures.

The NFL has Patrick Mahomes, the NHL has Connor McDavid, and the MLB has Shohei Ohtani. All of them have been seen as their league’s current best players. From championships to MVPs, all of them have demonstrated that they can be marketable and appealing for fans to watch. 

Even before them, athletes like Sidney Crosby and Tom Brady were arguably the biggest names in their sports, especially in the 2010s. Crosby, who remains active in the league, is still among the most popular players in the NHL. 

In a league like the NBA, LeBron James is still the face of the league. While every other league has transitioned to new faces of their respective leagues, LeBron has held firm to that distinction in the NBA. However, at 40 years old, his career is nearing a conclusion. 

This has led to the question many have asked for years, who will be the NBA’s newest face? Fans have banked on one player in particular, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. 

But does he want to be?

Edwards is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA. Even in the state of Minnesota, he may be more popular than the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov. His incredible athleticism has amazed fans and has easily made him one of the league’s favorites.

When he’s on the court, he's competitive and displays tremendous confidence. Off the court, he doesn’t drink, he’s acted in commercials, and was in the Adam Sandler film “Hustle” in 2022. He has everything to become the NBA's biggest name.

Recently, however, Edwards was asked during All-Star weekend if he had any thoughts of being the future face of the league.  

He replied by saying, “No, not really.”

Edwards then mentioned San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama since entering the Association in 2023 has been excellent, so Edwards acknowledging him as the future face is a great sign of respect. 

LeBron following the Lakers’ win vs the Timberwolves on Feb. 27 spoke about Edwards and the potential label being applied to him. 

“I feel Ant, I understand, I completely understand,” James addressed reporters. “There’s this weird energy when it comes to this.”  

James also mentioned how people that cover the league essentially insult and say negative things about it, especially players. What followed was mixed reactions from everyone in the media space. From former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, to ESPN personalities in Brian Windhorst and Stephen A. Smith, everyone had an opinion. 

James mentioning the media’s attitude to players and the league itself is nothing new. However, arguably both sides have their fair points in these conversations surrounding Edwards being the future face of this great league. 

Unlike the NFL and the NHL for example, NBA talking heads constantly speak poorly of the current game. From Shaquille O’Neal to Brian Scalabrine, both have voiced their opinions in recent years about the current state. Things have ranged from a lack of defense to a lack of innovation and creativity. 

A few days back in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson shouted out former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie online. Flutie appreciated Jackson’s praise as a result. Two quarterbacks from two different generations connecting elated many, and the NBA needs that sense of camaraderie between the past and present.   

Former NHL defenseman P.K. Subban during the Four Nations Face-Off was giving praise to not only the players competing, but for the sport itself. 

Luckily for the current generation, former NBA players like Jamal Crawford and Baron Davis have spoken highly of players in this era. Voices like these only help the game and maintain the league among the best in the world. 

Many can’t blame Edwards for the stance he took about not wanting to be the next megastar of the league. But once LeBron and others like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant retire, the league wants someone to represent the league. 

Commissioner Adam Silver has been searching for that answer for years now. Wembanyama is not out of the ballpark as an option, but how would some domestic fans feel about that decision? Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgenous-Alexander, they all have been considered as well. 

It’s clear for some NBA fanatics that this league needs someone to marketize once LeBron calls it a career. That’s why some proclaimed Edwards as the next one up.

Even amidst the great potential of Edwards, he is still developing and maturing on and off the court. Edwards currently has 16 technical fouls on the season and has been fined a total of $320,000. He has also been fined in past seasons for using offensive language. 

Time will tell who replaces LeBron as the most prominent figure in this current era, but whoever does will have a lot to handle. 

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

 

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