LeBron James Understands Why Anthony Edwards Doesn’t Want to be 'Face of the NBA’

LeBron said there’s a “weird energy.”

March 2, 2025

LeBron James in a Lakers jersey smiles at another basketball player on the court, with a crowd in the background.

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James says he understands why Anthony Edwards doesn't want to be the face of the NBA.

On Thursday night (Feb. 27), while talking to reporters, Bron reflected on Edwards' comments made during NBA All-Star Weekend about turning down being the NBA's leading man and sympathized with the young superstar. Bron channeled his former teammate Channing Frye who recently asked why would anyone want to be the face of the league if "all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis shit on everybody?"

According to King James, he never asked to be the face of the league, but he took on the responsibility of knowing what it entailed. However, he gets why Ant-Man doesn't want it.

"Ant said he don't want it. Obviously I didn't ask for it but I knew there was a responsibility for me not only to my family, my friends and my community and whoever that was going to follow my journey throughout my career," he said. "I feel Ant. I understand. I completely understand. There's just weird energy when it comes to that."

ESPN's Dave McMenamin asked Ant during All-Star Weekend if he saw himself as the potential face of the league, but he dismissed it and said the NBA has Victor Wembenyama to carry the title. Check out where we ranked Ant and Wemby in our 25 Best NBA Players Under 25 Ranked list.

LeBron shared more on his thoughts defending Edwards when he hopped on X with a series of tweets saying the conversation isn't about the face of the league but the culture of the game itself.