Anthony Edwards made recent headlines during the All-Star break.
During last week’s All-Star festivities in San Francisco, the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar was asked if he views himself as the face of the league in the near future — a crowning sentiment that sets him up to carry the torch following LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
But in a polite manner, Anthony Edwards dismissed the possibility, claiming that San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is destined for that honorable distinction.
In the eyes of Carmelo Anthony, Edwards’ statement is disappointing as he believes that the 23-year-old already has what it takes to be the Association’s next poster boy.
Contrary to the take of Shannon Sharpe, Carmelo Anthony expressed dismay at the other hand over Edwards’ hesitancy to own the honor and embrace being the future face of the NBA.
He insists Edwards can’t run from the moment, acknowledging the excitement that surrounds him already at a young age.
“I love Ant, but you can’t run from that, especially when everybody is trying to give you the face; you can’t run from that,” Anthony said in 7PM in Brooklyn podcast.
“You can’t reject it and then be in four out of five commercials. You can’t do that. You can’t say I don’t want this, and then get Adidas, Sprite, this commercial, you can’t reject it. You got to pick a side.
“Either you just play ball, and you do what you do. This is what comes with being a superstar.”
Edwards is in the midst of yet another stellar season as one of the league’s brightest stars. In his fifth season, he is averaging a career-high 27.5 points and 41.5 percent three-point shooting along with 5.8 boards and 4.5 assists across 54 games.
His success with Minnesota in 2023-24 propelled Edwards to superstardom in which he aided the franchise to 56 wins and its second Western Conference Finals appearance in history, sparking sudden Michael Jordan comparisons due to his electrifying play and immense athleticism.
Wembanyama is undoubtedly being favored by the majority considering his generational traits and the excitement he has created since entering the league in 2023. Nevertheless, Edwards certainly has a potential to earn the role and sit atop the basketball mountaintop because of his charisma and blossoming game.
Should Edwards strive to inherit the keys of the NBA, Anthony believes that he has to be aware enough of the burden of responsibility he has to shoulder.
“We dangle the face of the league around too much. You gotta really earn that, Anthony said. “He’s on his way and he understands he’s on his way to doing that.
“And that’s a lot of pressure, so you have to embrace it.”
