With LeBron James in the twilight of his career, some have already taken up the debate over whom the next face of the NBA will be. Anthony Edwards has a decent argument in his favor, but he had his own take on the question.
Edwards was asked Saturday if he sees himself as the next face of the NBA after the bright start to his Minnesota Timberwolves career. He was not ready to lay claim to the title himself, however, for one big reason.
“Not really. That’s what they got Wemby for,” Edwards said.
That would be San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who has taken the NBA by storm since becoming the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.
One might have expected Edwards to back himself, but it is not hard to figure out why he feels the way he does, either. Wembanyama is already doing things that few have ever done. Plus, Wembanyama is a native of France, and has popularity and reach in Europe in a way that Edwards does not.
On the other hand, Edwards is averaging 27.5 points per game this season and has developed into one of the league’s most explosive players. He also has a direct line to perhaps the greatest player ever, which has to count for something.
More realistically, Wembanyama and Edwards will both wind up being among the NBA’s top stars for years to come. In the case of Edwards, that will depend on his continued desire to play the sport.
Much will also depend on team success, as fans will want to see players who consistently make deep playoff runs and contend for championships. So far, neither has come close, with Edwards and the Timberwolves bowing out in the Western Conference Finals last season.
Both Edwards and Wembanyama are taking part in this weekend’s All-Star festivities in San Francisco.
