“Who is going to be the face of the NBA?” That’s been a hot topic of discussion around the league for quite some time now. And for many, Anthony Edwards is the front-runner.
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Ant being the first choice to be the new ‘face of the NBA’ makes a lot of sense. He’s just 23, so he’s got a lot of playing days left. Plus, his on-court talent and off-court personality combine to make him a draw across all age groups of fans.
Edwards has also been often compared to the great Michael Jordan. Ant’s fans believe he displays the same killer instincts on the hardwood as the NBA legend. But Gilbert Arenas doesn’t think Edwards is the right man for the role — for reasons which have nothing to do with his skills as a player.
The 3x All-Star explained why on an episode of his podcast, No Chill Gil.
According to Gibby, an honor like this can’t be bestowed based on talent alone — there are other off-court factors at play as well. A squeaky-clean image and a sterling reputation figure right at the top in these, which is quite evident from the way LeBron James conducts himself as the NBA’s current face. This was equally true in the cases of others who have been the face of the league in the past.
But in the case of Ant, there are complications introduced by his off-court activities. His romantic life casts a shadow over the possibility of his being picked as the face of the NBA. Ant has a daughter with his girlfriend Shannon Jackson. Outside of that, he has been rumored to have fathered two more kids, a daughter and a son. Per Gil, this makes him unfit for the honor.
Anthony Edwards on whether he's the next face of the NBA:
"Not really. That's what they got Wemby for"
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) February 15, 2025
Arenas said, “He can’t be the face of the league. He’s got too many baby mamas.”
While fans and experts argue the case for and against him, Ant himself isn’t even interested in the role. When asked last month if he was the next in line, Edwards responded, “Not really. That’s what they got Wemby for.”
Gilbert Arenas picks Jayson Tatum over Anthony Edwards
The face of the league is partly responsible for bringing new audiences, inspiring kids to take an interest in basketball, generating revenue, and growing the game. There are a lot of boxes one has to check before being considered for this unofficial tag. According to Arenas, Jayson Tatum seems to be the right man for the job.
He said, “The ideal [choice] is Jayson Tatum. I mean, he’s already there, he has won [championship], he has a celebrity girl. It’s easier. I think if he got married, it’ll be easier for them.”
Gil was referring to the Grammy Award-winning British singer Ella Mai, who welcomed a son with Tatum ahead of the Paris Olympics.
JT has also expressed his wish to be the face of the league and willingness to take on that responsibility. Unfortunately, he gets a lot of flak for not being a dominant leader for the Celtics, which may affect his chances.
