Edwards deflects "face of the league" talk, crediting Wembanyama. Their electric matchups hint at the NBA's future rivalry.
Anthony Edwards has never been one to bite his tongue, and his appearance at All-Star Media Day on Saturday was no different.
With LeBron James potentially nearing the end of his legendary career, the question of who takes over as the face of the NBA keeps coming up, and Edwards keeps giving the same answer.
When asked if he sees himself stepping into that role once James retires, the Minnesota Timberwolves star didn't hesitate. "Man, them folks got Wembanyama," Edwards said.
"They got Wembanyama. They'll be all right." It wasn't the first time Edwards has deflected that kind of attention, either, as he gave a similar response last year at All-Star Weekend.
He also admitted that when James does eventually hang it up, he "might cry a little bit," showing that even one of the league's most confident players still has deep respect for the game's biggest icon.
A Rivalry That Speaks for Itself
Edwards might not want the "face of the league" label, but his matchups with Victor Wembanyama this season have told a different story about where the NBA is headed.
The two young stars have turned every meeting into must-see television, and their January 17th showdown in San Antonio was the best example of that.
Edwards dropped a career-high 55 points and Wembanyama answered with 39 of his own as the Spurs held on for a 126-123 win.
After the game, Edwards said he wished the two of them could have just cleared the floor and gone one-on-one.
Minnesota took the first two games of the season series, including a wild comeback on January 11th when Edwards hit a go-ahead runner with 16.8 seconds left to erase a 19-point deficit.
San Antonio got the last laugh in game three behind Wembanyama's dominant two-way performance and a clutch offensive rebound in the final seconds.
Can Edwards Be That Guy Anyway?
The numbers say Edwards already is one of the best players in the league, whether he wants the extra spotlight or not.
He's averaging 29.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three.
The Timberwolves sit at 34-22 and hold the sixth seed in a loaded Western Conference as they head into the All-Star break.
Wembanyama, meanwhile, has been just as impressive and is a big reason San Antonio owns the second-best record in the West at 38-16.
The 22-year-old is putting up 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game while anchoring what has become one of the league's best defenses.
Unlike Edwards, Wembanyama has embraced the idea of being the face of the NBA, saying at the same Media Day that he "definitely" sees it happening and that he is "here to supply" the demand.
Two Stars With Different Paths
The contrast between Edwards and Wembanyama is what makes their growing rivalry so fun to watch.
One wants to show up, dominate, and go home without all the extra noise, while the other is ready to carry the weight of representing the entire sport.
Both approaches work for who they are as players and as people, and the league is better off because of it.
Edwards doesn't need a title to prove he belongs in the conversation.
His game does the talking for him every single night, and if the next decade of the NBA looks anything like their battles this season, fans are in for something special regardless of who ends up on the throne.