Anthony Edwards is putting out the absolute best numbers, yet Charles Barkley is not ready to give him his flowers as the face of the NBA.
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and what they face now is an elimination.
Despite a great showing in the previous matches of the series, Edwards was ineffective during the recent defeat. The star shooting guard went for a mere 16 points throughout the game while being completely silent in the first quarter.
Recently, Barkley refused to tag him as the next big thing in the league. Instead, he got other current NBA stars who make a great case.
“Don’t try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA. The face of the NBA is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joker & Giannis. You can’t give it to people. They have to take it. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is taking it,” Barkley said.
"Don't try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA. The face of the NBA is SGA, Joker & Giannis." 🗣️
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 27, 2025
Chuck with strong opinions on the "Face of the League" convos 👀 pic.twitter.com/tTVaAyRsKU
What’s perhaps most concerning is Edwards’ performance in high-pressure situations. This isn’t the first time he’s struggled in the postseason. In fact, he’s had a rough go in back-to-back conference finals, where he seemed to go quiet when his team needed him most.
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In Game 4 of this series, he started off slow, only taking two shots in the first half, and finished with just 5-of-13 shooting and five turnovers.
If Not Anthony Edwards, Who Would Be The Face Of The NBA?
Anthony Edwards has been impressive in the NBA over the past few years. At just 23 years old, he’s already scored a spot as a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection.
Additionally, he’s really turned heads with impressive stats this season. ANT is averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Plus, he’s helped lead the Timberwolves to back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals.
With LeBron James winding down his legendary career, the NBA is buzzing about who will become the league’s next face.
Ja Morant & Anthony Edwards really let SGA become the FACE OF THE NBA.
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) May 27, 2025
They both fumbled it. pic.twitter.com/QUh2kFVTKE
When asked about this earlier in the season, Edwards humbly pointed to San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
While Edwards hasn’t yet won an MVP award himself, his future is undeniably bright. The conversation around who will carry the torch for the NBA is certainly lively, and it’s exciting to think about what’s next for Edwards.
However, the Timberwolves have one last shot to keep their season alive in their next game. For the Timberwolves to have any hope, Edwards will need to step up and deliver a standout performance.
If he struggles once again, he might find himself wanting to avoid the media for a while. Let’s hope he channels his inner superstar and shows what he can really do.
