Anthony Edwards may have a game worthy of being the NBA’s next featured athlete, but he’s already conceded that title. In a media interview for All-Star weekend, Edwards denied his candidacy for being the next face of basketball and tapped Victor Wembanyama as the obvious choice (via Dave McMenamin).
Reporter: “Do you consider yourself a top candidate to be the next face of the league? Why?”
Anthony Edwards: “Nah, not really… That’s what they’ve got Wemby for.”
As the 2024-25 season approaches the end, it’s obvious that the league is in a transition period. As stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry age out, fans are looking to Edwards (and others) to take their place and serve as an ambassador to the sport.
And while Anthony says he’s more than capable of fulfilling that role, he’d just rather stick to hoops and leave the theatrics to someone else.
“Well, I’m capable of being that guy,” said Edwards. “But I don’t want to be that guy, put it like that. I want to be the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”
Edwards is one of the league’s top players under 25. Drafted first overall in 2020, the 23-year-old superstar has taken control of the Timberwolves as their leading star and locker room leader.
In four seasons with the franchise, Edwards is averaging 27.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 44.0% shooting. In 2024, he led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals as the 3rd seed in the West (56-26).
As a springy shooting guard with an intense playstyle and a passion for winning, Ant has all the tools he needs to become the NBA’s next generational great. He’s been compared to legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and has received major praise from fans and peers alike.
Edwards, however, is not out to be the next face of the NBA. While he has goals of leading the Timberwolves to glory, Edwards couldn’t care less about stepping into a role as the NBA’s premier athlete. He’s not built for the pressure, but he believes Victor Wembanyama is up for the task.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year is having a stellar sophomore season with averages of 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game on 47.6% shooting. Coming into the league, Victor was hailed as the next LeBron James and he’s embraced the expectations so far.
This season, he’s leading the Spurs to a much improved season but they are still not in a position to make a significant run in the playoffs. Until Victor can succeed when it matters most, he will never be able to take up the mantle as the face of the NBA — but at least he’s up for claiming the title.
While Edwards may be closer to the top in terms of accolades and team success, he has no interest in accepting a larger role. He doesn’t want the responsibility that comes with being the face of the NBA, even if it also comes with more exposure and fame.
Love him or hate him, you can’t blame Edwards for passing the torch to Wemby. Players at the top of the hierarchy have to endure so much more pressure than everyone else and some would rather just focus their energy on helping their team.
Between the Timberwolves’ ongoing struggles on the court and Edwards’ family issues off the court, he has enough on his plate already without having the weight of the NBA world on his shoulders.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
