Victor Wembanyama Predicted as Future Face of the NBA Over Anthony Edwards by Players

The majority of NBA players polled in an anonymous player survey by The Athletic believe Victor Wembanyama will be the face of the league in five years.

Out of 138 players polled, 54.3 percent voted for the San Antonio Spurs star, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick and Josh Robbins.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards finished second with 13.8 percent of the vote, per Amick and Robbins.

Wembanyama, who last played on Feb. 12, reportedly underwent surgery to address deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in March. The Spurs have indicated they expect him to return at full strength next season.

Meanwhile, Edwards has led the Timberwolves into the playoffs for the fourth straight season. His team holds a 1-0 series lead after a Saturday blowout win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

When asked in February if he saw himself as potentially being the future face of the NBA, Edwards told reporters, "Not really."

When asked why, Edwards answered, "That's what they've got Wemby for."

James later empathized with Edwards when asked about the comment, saying he thinks there is "just weird energy" surrounding representing the league.

One anonymous player speaking with The Athletic about the poll told Amick and Robbins he thinks that "everybody's running away from the madness, and I can understand that."

“Time will tell. I wouldn’t pick anybody right now, because everybody is running away from it," the player told Amick and Robbins.

Edwards posted 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in Saturday's win over the Lakers. Leading the Timberwolves on a deep playoff run could bolster his campaign to represent the league in the future despite his hesitancy regarding the role.

The Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranked third with 10.9 percent of the vote, while the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum received 6.5 percent, per Amick and Robbins.

The Lakers' Luka Dončić, Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero, Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham and Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant each received less than 3 percent of the vote, according to Amick and Robbins.