Charles Barkley Names Faces of the NBA With Major Conviction

"Hey, ESPN, I love you guys. Don’t try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA," Barkley declared. "The face of the NBA is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joker [Nikola Jokić], and Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. You can’t give it to people. They have to take it. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is taking it."

His comments targeted ESPN’s persistent promotion of Edwards, fueled by the Minnesota Timberwolves star’s playoff elimination of LeBron James and Stephen Curry. But Barkley spotlighted credentials: Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP, Jokić owns three MVPs, and Antetokounmpo has two. Edwards? Zero.

The timing amplified Barkley’s point. Hours earlier, Edwards struggled mightily in Minnesota’s 128-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring just 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. SGA dominated that same Game 4 with 40 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, cementing his status as the playoffs’ alpha guard.

Edwards himself had downplayed the "face of the NBA" talk months prior, telling reporters: "Nah, not really. That’s what they got Wemby [Victor Wembanyama] for." Yet ESPN analysts pushed the narrative, drawing Barkley’s ire as he prepares to join the network next season.

But Barkley wasn’t finished. He doubled down on Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder as title favorites: "OKC is the best team in the NBA… Whoever comes out of the East (finals), they are going to beat the hell out of them." He even challenged doubters: "Anybody who wants to bet any amount of money, come to my house. I can afford it."

The critique hinges on consistency. Edwards’ playoff performances swing from spectacular (30 points in Game 3) to stagnant (his Game 4 no-show). Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić, and Antetokounmpo deliver nightly dominance and hardware. For Barkley, legacy isn’t manufactured by networks. It’s seized.