Kendrick Perkins Doesn't Think Anthony Edwards Can Be Face of the NBA: 'Gotta Be a Role Model'

Kendrick Perkins doesn't think Anthony Edwards is the face of the NBA due to all the off-the-court drama he's in with Ayesha Howard, the mother of his daughter Aubri.

On the latest episode of First Take, Kendrick Perkins criticized Anthony Edwards, saying he doesn’t believe Edwards fits the mold to be the face of the league. According to Perkins, the face of the NBA should be a family man who stays out of drama. Edwards is currently involved in multiple paternity suits, including one with a woman named Howard that has made headlines due to the details of the case.

"You gotta check the boxes when you're the face of the league," said Perkins. "Yes, we know you gotta have a signature shoe, you're going to be in commercials, you're going to have the highlights, you gotta have the game, but you know what else you gotta have? You gotta be a role model, and things outside the lines matter."

He added, "Now if you go down the list of all the faces of the league in the history of the game, you look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph, what do they all have in common? While they was playing in the league they all were family men.They all were married with kids and if you don't think that play a role as far as the role model this is facts."

Perk's take might have a few holes in it as several of the names he mentioned had their issues with women off the court. Magic Johnson retired from the league after contracting HIV from hooking up with multiple women, Shaq has admitted to being a terrible husband, and the late Kobe Bryant was accused of rape and hit with criminal charges for felony sexual assault.

During NBA All-Star Weekend this year, Edwards admitted he didn't want to be the league's leading man and felt Victor Wembenyama could carry the title.