LeBron James has been the NBA face throughout his 22 -year -old career and knows the territory that comes with him.
James, 40, said he understands that players do not want to happen due to the attention of the media that entails.
“Why do you want to be the face of a league when all the people who cover our game and talk about our game on a daily basis — in all?” James asked the journalists after the Los Angeles Lakers won the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
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Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James striker (23) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets in Ball Arena. (Christopher Hanewinkel-Imagn images)
“That responsibility is strange. It is a strange energy of the people who … I don’t know.”
The Timberwolves star, Anthony Edwards, recently said that he does not want to be the next face of the NBA and only wants to focus on basketball.
“Well, I am able to be that guy. But I don’t want to be that guy, say so. I want to be the guy to appear and rings and kill guys and go home,” Edwards said during the NBA All-Star weekend in February.
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The United States Guard, LeBron James (6), Guard Kevin Durant (7) and Guard Anthony Edwards (5) at the bank in the last quarter against Puerto Rico during the Summer Games in Paris 2024 in Stade Pierre-Mauroy. (John David Mercer-USA Today Sports)
James said he completely understands where Edwards comes from.
“(Anthony Edwards) said he doesn’t want to. I mean, obviously, I didn’t ask for it; but I knew there was a responsibility for me, not only for my family, my friends, my community and who was my trip throughout my career, not only for Ohio when I started there, but throughout the United States and worldwide when I travel around the world,” James said.
“I have always taken it seriously and understood from the beginning of what a professional is about and being a model to follow … I feel ant. I understand. I understand completely. It is a strange energy when it comes to that.”
The Los Angeles Lakers striker, LeBron James (23), celebrates with the guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers on Crypto.com Arena. (Images Jason Parkhurst-Imagn)
Many NBA fans want Edwards to be the next face of the NBA after James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant retire.
But fortunately for Edwards, he does not have to worry about assuming that title yet, since James is still advancing, productive as always at age 40.
