LeBron James Understands Why Anthony Edwards Doesn\u2019t Want to Be NBA Face: \u2018There\u2019s This Weird Energy\u2019.<\/p>\n
Lakers star LeBron James has been one of the NBA’s most recognized faces for over 20 years. However, he doesn\u2019t blame rising star Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves for not wanting that title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel Ant,\u201d James said Thursday night after the Lakers’ 111-102 win over Minnesota at Crypto.com Arena. \u201cI understand. I completely get it. There\u2019s this strange energy attached to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
At just 23, Edwards has already become a three-time NBA All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist, playing alongside James on the U.S. national team. While Edwards is typically comfortable in the spotlight, he was recently asked during an All-Star weekend press conference if he views himself as a potential future face of the NBA.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Edwards responded. \u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked why, he explained, \u201cThat\u2019s what they got Wemby for,\u201d referring to San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n
Later, in an NBA TV interview, Edwards further clarified his stance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m capable of being that guy, but I don\u2019t want to be that guy,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cPut it like that. I just want to show up, play, dominate, and then go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Channing Frye, a former NBA player who won a title with James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, recently discussed the situation on the \u201cRoad Trippin\u2019\u201d podcast, saying, \u201cNostalgia is killing the NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery great player, whether it\u2019s Ant, Wemby, Bron, or Steph [Curry]\u2014you know who they compare them to? Some guy who played 40 years ago,\u201d Frye said, specifically mentioning Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody celebrates the new players, so why would anyone want to be the face of the league when you\u2019re just going to get criticized every day for not being someone from 40 years ago? It\u2019s unfair and ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n
James responded to Frye\u2019s comments on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cChanning Frye said it the other day… Why would you want to be the face of the league when the people who cover our game constantly criticize everyone?\u201d James said. \u201cIt\u2019s just weird. It\u2019s strange energy from people that\u2014 I don\u2019t know, but Channing said it perfectly. Couldn\u2019t have said it better.\u201d<\/p>\n
James continued, reflecting on his own experience with being the face of the league: \u201cAnt said he doesn\u2019t want it. I didn\u2019t ask for it either, but I knew there was a responsibility. It wasn\u2019t just about my family and friends, but anyone who followed my career journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always taken that seriously and understood from the start what being a professional and a role model meant, so I\u2019ve carried that with the utmost respect and honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LeBron James Understands Why Anthony Edwards Doesn\u2019t Want to Be NBA Face: \u2018There\u2019s This Weird Energy\u2019. Lakers star LeBron James has been one of the NBA’s most recognized faces for over 20 years. However, he doesn\u2019t blame rising star Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves for not wanting that title. \u201cI feel Ant,\u201d James said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2586],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lakers"],"yoast_head":"\n