In a league filled with stars like Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards is emerging as the player that many believe could become the face of the league. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ young standout is one of the most exciting talents in the game. However, Kendrick Perkins, the 2008 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, is not quite sold on that narrative. Perkins points out one crucial trait he believes Edwards still lacks.
“You gotta check the boxes when you’re the face of the league…Things outside the lines matter. Now, if you go down the list of all the faces of the league in the history of the game — you look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph — what did they all have in common? While they were playing in the league, they were all family men. They were all married with kids,” Perkins stated on First Take.
Although Kendrick Perkins did not mention Anthony Edwards by name, his words seemed aimed at him. Many saw it as a direct shot at the Timberwolves’ star, especially considering his off-court scandals. Perkins has a point, though, because players who have thrived in this role tend to stay out of trouble off the court. However, becoming the face of the NBA is not something a player can control.
In fact, Anthony stated on ESPN that he does not want to be the face of the league. Instead, he believes that role belongs to Victor Wembanyama. Some interpreted his comments as a lack of ambition. However, Edwards took the time to explain his reasoning.
“There’s a lot of s*** that comes with that face of the league, all that…I just want to play ball, and go to the crib, and play my game. I’m not really into all the other stuff, but they be wanting me to get into it,” Timberwolves’ star affirmed on his Youtube channel.
LeBron James’s agent Rich Paul delivers a bold opinion on the next face of the NBA
LeBron James and Stephen Curry have been the faces of the NBA in recent years. However, both players are now over 36 years old and their retirement is a real possibility at any time. As a result, several players have emerged as potential successors. Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama have all been mentioned as candidates to carry the torch.
However, LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, offered a different take on the debate during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “I know we had that face of the league conversation and I don’t think there’s gonna be a next ‘face of the league.’ I think there’ll be a community, just like it was when Jordan left in ’98 it became a community. So I think we should embrace that. It’s not naming somebody, if it becomes one face then that’s because that person earned it, but I think it’s multi-faceted.”