Intern reporter Chen Yutang / Combined Report

　　Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has risen to the top tier of NBA players in recent years with his standout performances, making him a popular candidate to be the league’s next “face.” However, in a recent interview, he passed that title to Jalen Brunson, who just led the New York Knicks to an NBA championship, arguing that only those who reach the highest stage deserve the honor.

　　Speaking at the Fanatics Fest event, Edwards was asked by host Taylor Rooks who he considers the current face of the NBA. He admitted that he himself is not yet qualified.

　　“Being the face of the league comes with a lot of responsibility, and I think one of those things is you have to win a championship,” Edwards said. “I haven’t done that yet, so maybe it’s Brunson, or someone else who has already accomplished it.”

　　Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in years this season, averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists in the regular season, and raising his scoring to 28.4 points in the playoffs. He exploded for 45 points in Game 5 of the Finals to lead the team past the San Antonio Spurs, earning Finals MVP honors.

　　Although Edwards also posted a career-best 28.8 points per game last season and became one of the league’s most marketable young stars, the Timberwolves’ failure to reach the NBA Finals has left him feeling that he is still one step away from being the “face of the league.”

　　Edwards’ comments were widely interpreted as the highest praise for Brunson, while also revealing his own definition of the “face of the league”—not just personal stats and popularity, but the championship as the ultimate proof.

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