The NBA is stacked with talent, but talking about its stars has never been more polarizing. Somehow, Anthony Edwards is at the center of it—not because of his game, but because he doesn’t want to be the face of the league. His reason? The media’s constant scrutiny.

LeBron James backed him up immediately, calling out the negativity surrounding player coverage. That alone caused a stir, but things really took off when Stephen A. Smith fired back with one of his signature rants. Just when it seemed like the drama had cooled off, LeBron returned with a response that flipped the conversation.

Instead of going back and forth with Smith, LeBron let the facts do the talking. He didn’t make it about one argument or one person—he stuck to his original point: this isn’t about a single player or a single show. It’s about how the game is covered as a whole.

“Exactly made my point but anyways. Happy this convo has started. It ain’t about ‘face of the game,’ and it ain’t about one person or one show, it’s about the culture of basketball, the most beautiful game in the world,” Bron stated.

He then shifted the focus to what actually matters—the game itself. Instead of feeding into media narratives, LeBron pointed out how incredible today’s NBA is. Steph Curry just torched the Magic for 56 points. Luka Doncic is making waves with the Lakers. The league has never been this deep.

“Our game has never been better. Incredible young stars from all over the world and some older ones 🤣🤣🤣. Steph Curry should be all we are talking about today.” And he’s right.

 Curry’s game on February 27 was another big night, another historic night. He scored 12 threes and upped his season tally to 26 career games with 10 or more threes. Now he is the first player in history to have nine games of 50 points after turning 30, passing Wilt Chamberlain.

Instead of arguing over who should be the “face” of the league, LeBron believes the focus should stay on basketball. That doesn’t mean players should be free from criticism—it just needs perspective.

“Of course, if players don’t perform, we need to discuss that too and break that down. Even that can be discussed in a way that’s not to bring finality to that player’s game but to leave room to see how that player responds and let’s watch the journey of that player.”

LeBron believes that the media does not just analyze anymore, but runs to judgment. Sometimes losing a few bad games does not necessarily spell trouble for a player; suddenly he is washed. Not only is it bad for a superstar to be fined, it’s a full-fledged debate on character.

Which brings us back to Anthony Edwards.

Where It All Started—LeBron’s Initial Comments Sparked the Fire

Before all this, the conversation revolved around Edwards. The Timberwolves star has every reason to be a central figure in the NBA’s marketing. He’s leading Minnesota through one of their best seasons ever, and he plays with a swagger that the league should embrace. But when asked about being the face of the NBA, he wanted no part of it.

LeBron understood immediately. “Why do you wanna be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game on a day-to-day basis s— on everybody? Obviously, I didn’t ask for it. I feel Ant. I understand. This is weird energy when it comes to that.”

And honestly, Edwards’ hesitation makes sense. He’s already under a microscope. His aggressive style has led to $310,000 in fines this season alone—including $25,000 for his latest technical foul, which got him suspended. Every little thing he does—on or off the court—faces scrutiny. For what?

LeBron’s point was simple: Why would any young star want that kind of attention? But Stephen A. Smith wasn’t having it.

Smith didn’t just disagree—he went off. “This is some straight BS. I understand there’s enormous pressure in being the face of the league, but I don’t appreciate what he said. I really, really don’t.”

His biggest issue? LeBron acting like he didn’t benefit from the same media coverage he’s now criticizing.

“There’s so much stuff you could point to when you look at LeBron James. He has a 75-minute show to announce he’s leaving Cleveland, blindsiding the Cavs’ owner. That led to changes in the collective bargaining agreement that took away basketball-related income from the players.”

Smith believes The Decision and LeBron’s free agency moves helped shape today’s NBA media landscape. In his view, LeBron isn’t just a product of the system—he played a role in creating it.

And when it comes to the idea that the media is too critical, Smith wasn’t buying it. “Players always think the media is against them. But if saying LeBron James is the second greatest player ever is ‘hating’ on him, then what are we even doing here?”

His stance was clear—if you want to be the guy, you have to take the heat. At the end of the day, this debate isn’t really about LeBron vs. Stephen A. Smith—it’s about how the NBA is covered.

LeBron wants the spotlight on the game itself. He sees a league overflowing with talent—Curry going nuclear, Luka fitting in seamlessly with the Lakers, and a new wave of stars making history. In his mind, the media should be celebrating those moments instead of feeding into negativity.

Smith, on the other hand, believes superstars can’t have it both ways. The media isn’t just there to hype players up—it’s also there to hold them accountable. If you want to be the face of the league, you have to accept the scrutiny that comes with it.

And let’s be honest—this debate isn’t going anywhere.

The media will always shape the NBA’s storylines. The only question is, will it be about the game—or will it always be something else?