LeBron James: 'I Understand' Anthony Edwards' Comments on Not Being 'Face of the NBA'
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James sympathized with Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards regarding his recent comments about not necessarily wanting to be the face of the NBA.
Speaking to reporters Thursday night, James said, "I feel Ant. I understand. I completely understand. There's just weird energy when it comes to that."
James also quoted his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Channing Frye, noting that Frye recently asked why someone would want to be the face of the league when "all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s--t on everybody?"
The question posed to James was in reference to Edwards dismissing his status as a potential future face of the league during All-Star weekend.
Per ESPN'sĀ Dave McMenamin, when Edwards was asked whether he views himself in that light, he responded, "Not really," before adding, "That's what they've got Wemby for."
Wemby is 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, who was named an All-Star in his second NBA campaign before getting shut down for the remainder of the season with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder.
Edwards, 23, has improved with each passing season since the T-Wolves made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
He has been named an All-Star in three consecutive seasons and finished seventh in NBA MVP voting last season, while earning All-NBA second-team honors.
So far this season, Edwards is averaging a career-high 27.5 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 4.1 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals.
Since James is 40, Stephen Curry is about to turn 37 and Kevin Durant is 36, there has been a great deal of discussion lately about who will take over as the face of the league once they retire.
There are several candidates for that role, including Edwards, Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, among others.
Edwards clearly isn't lobbying to be viewed in that light, but if he continues to make strides and perform at a high level, he may not have much of a choice in the matter.
James was in a similar situation, as he was considered one of the faces of the NBA almost as soon as the Cavs took him first overall in 2003.
LeBron has embraced the position and thrived in it, though, establishing himself as the league's all-time leading scorer and one of its greatest players ever.
Even so, James seems to understand the responsibilities and challenges that come with being in that spot, which may be why he isn't pressing Edwards to follow in his footsteps.
