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LeBron James Makes His Feelings on Anthony Edwards as the 'Face of the NBA' Perfectly Clear

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Ettinger | Last updated Feb 28, 2025 4:40 AM ET

Anthony Edwards is one of the most talented, young players in the NBA. At just 23 years old, Edwards is fourth in the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 27.5 points per game. This is a career high for Edwards, and he is also averaging career highs in rebounds per game (6.0) and made 3-pointers per game (4.1).

Edwards' potential ceiling seemingly has no end, and that led to reporters asking Edwards if he wants to be the face of the league at NBA All-Star Weekend. Edwards replied, "Not really, that's what they got Wemby for."

Edwards later said, "He's capable of being that guy, but I don’t want to be that guy, put it like that. I want to be the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”

Edwards' Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Los Angeles Lakers on the road on Thursday night. The Lakers came away with the 111-102 win after Edwards was controversially ejected from the game. After the game, reporters took to the Lakers' locker room to get LeBron James' thoughts on Anthony Edwards' comments from NBA All-Star Weekend. James made his feelings perfectly clear:

LeBron on Anthony Edwards’ statement at All-Star that he isn’t striving to become the face of the NBA: “Channing Frye said it … ‘Why do you 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— on everybody?’” pic.twitter.com/dNHHrzWRiT
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 28, 2025

"Why do you 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 (expletive) on everybody?” James asked.

James' comments aren't unique, but they are completely contrary to the stance Carmelo Anthony (one of James' closes friends) took last week:

"You can't reject being the face of the NBA and then be on 4-5 commercials."

The crew went in on Anthony Edwards not wanting to be face of the league pic.twitter.com/n7gfxKUBms
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) February 20, 2025

"You can’t say I don’t want this, and then get Adidas, Sprite, this commercial, you can’t reject it. You got to pick a side. Either you just play ball, and you do what you do. This is what comes with being a superstar," Anthony said on the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast.

As for James, he provided his thoughts on his personal experience becoming the face of the league.

"I never asked for it, but I knew there was a responsibility not only to my family, my friends, and my community and to whoever was going to follow my journey throughout my career...But I feel Ant, there's a weird energy when it comes to that."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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