We are in transition with the likes of LeBron, Jimmy, and Steph in their late 30s. Like any other sport, the new generation is taking over the NBA, with the likes of Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic looking to be front runners for being the new face of the Association. There was one more hope. The Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards would’ve been on the top 3 of that list — and he certainly has the talent and the attitude to be the best. But does he want to be?

The whole talk of being the ‘face’ of the NBA is more fan-concocted than anything. All the ballers care about is stepping onto the court and doing what they love to the best of their abilities. Many a time, people forget what the pressure of being the face of a sport can do to an athlete. It might’ve worked out for the likes of LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo, but they’re built differently. And Anthony Edwards makes this explicitly clear that he doesn’t want to be the face of the NBA.

‘I’m capable of being that guy, but I don’t wanna be that guy, let’s put it like that. I wanna be the guy who shows up to the hoop and kills dudes and go home,” says the Ant-Man. And no one’s in a hurry to blame him, because it was never his goal to be the face. He just wants to dunk on his opponents and show them who’s boss. Well, not a bad idea, though. “We got Wemby for that,” says the wonder kid — referring to the rise of Victor Wembanyama over the last couple of seasons.

This comes during the 2025 NBA All-Star weekend that took place in the Chase Center on February 14th. Ant was picked up by Kenny Anderson as his No. 1 pick for the 2025 All-Stars draft to play for Kenny’s Young Stars. The stage was set for him to show his worth- before getting sidelined due to a groin injury. Seems like he’s certainly following in the footsteps of his idol, Kevin Durant.

Shannon Sharpe shows support for Edwards’ stance

Former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe has been a household face on social media. He knows the pressure of the big stages because he has been a tight end for the better part of 14 years for the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens before his retirement. He brings his credibility to the media when taking his stances on ongoing debates- which is exactly what he’s done while discussing Edwards’ comments on not wanting to be the face of the NBA.

“NBA, stop throwing him in front of the line to be one of your faces of the NBA. He’s telling you. How many ways does someone tell you they don’t want something before you actually believe it? I believe him when he says he doesn’t wanna be the face of the NBA. He doesn’t want what comes along with being that. That’s okay… Leave him alone. Don’t try to put that on him if he doesn’t want it,” says the Shapeshifter during a panel discussion.

Shannon might have a public perception that’s more on the goofy and comical side, — his ‘Lakers in 5’ segment has the whole world on strings. But nothing is comical in his public show of support for the Ant-Man. Edwards has shown up to games with slides and baggies, showcasing his relaxed demeanor. All Sharpe wants is for the fans and the NBA to lay off his back and let the man do his job.

Anthony Edwards is just standing up for what he believes in. He doesn’t care about the glory and the fame, all he wants is to play ball. Shannon Sharpe’s support could not only help put Ant at ease, but that might encourage the other new ‘faces’ to clarify their side of the story.