Three words. One dream. That’s the NBA. Longevity, consistency, fitness—without them, even the best fade away. Every college hooper, from America to the farthest corners of the world, dreams of making it. But only the elite survive. Right now, one name is making waves—Hercy Miller. Son of rap legend Master P, he’s grinding with the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. His inspiration? LeBron James. Because, let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to follow in the King’s footsteps?

The Thunderbirds guard sat with EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw to discuss all things basketball. At 22, he’s surely making waves, however, his aim, or rather a dream, is to emulate the Akron Hammer’s wonders at 40. Can he? That’s for time to answer. But now, during the interview, Miller was about the dominance Bron has imposed in year 21. Moreover, as a 22-year-old, how does the LeBron James mindset drive his longevity?

“It’s kind of crazy to see. It’s like LeBron’s 40,” Hercy Miller replied. “I’m thinking of any other 40-year-old—they’re not doing what he’s doing. So just seeing him, it kind of makes me wonder, how is he taking care of his body? What does he eat? I need to get on his health program, you know? Because I want to be able to play that long.” Any lies? No. Leave basketball and pick any sport; you will hardly find athletes who, in their 40s, carry the burden of the team with no signs of aging.

Simply put, the youngster is in awe of the King’s duration. He noted how no one his age is performing at that level. Inspired, Miller also wonders about LeBron’s diet and training, hoping to adopt a similar regimen to extend his own career. Speaking of the Los Angeles Lakers star’s diet, you can only wonder what he eats. A “clean” diet. James focuses on lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding artificial drinks, sugars, and fried foods. Hard to believe, but that’s the secret to the King’s aura.

Meanwhile, LeBron James treats his body like a million-dollar masterpiece—literally. Reports say he spends $1.5 million a year on it, though he keeps the mystery alive. His game-day grind? Cold plunge at dawn, court work in the morning, a power nap by noon, then hours of stretching, massaging, and core work before tip-off. At 40, he’s still unstoppable. Coincidence? Not a chance.

Now, coming back to the NBA, Hercy Miller predicted something during his interview. Well, you cannot truly call it a prediction as the league is revolving and heading towards a new fate. And that is, who is going to be the face of the league after LeBron James and Stephen Curry? Any guesses?

Hercy Miller gives his verdict on the next face of the NBA after LeBron James

Who is going to be the face of the NBA? You see, the inevitable is near. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and even Kevin Durant are at the twilight of their glorious careers. You never know when these legends would call it a day once and for all. Therefore, Adam Silver needs to appoint the next big star, the next big name of the league. And given the current circumstances, there’s one name that’s been the loudest, and that is: Anthony Edwards.

Even Hercy Miller thinks the same. In the interview, Whitelaw asked him who he thinks could be the face of the NBA in the coming years. The 22-year-old guard replied: “Sadly, I think the next face of the NBA is probably Anthony Edwards. It’s probably the next one up.” Wondering why Miller used the term ‘sadly’?

Well, the math seems simple. Remember Ant being very particular about expressing his disinterest in being the face? “I’m capable of being that guy. But I don’t want to be that guy”. Instead, he wanted Victor Wembanyama to be the ‘Chosen One’. But as pointed out by many, it’s most unlikely for the league to appoint a European as the face, so maybe, just maybe, Edwards is the one.

At the end of the day, the NBA is shifting, and Hercy Miller sees it. LeBron and Curry won’t rule forever, and Anthony Edwards seems next in line—whether he likes it or not. The torch is passing, but not without debate. Miller admires LeBron James’ longevity, craves his discipline, and dreams of a career that lasts. The future is uncertain, but one thing’s clear—greatness never fades, it just finds new faces.