Anthony Edwards is not just a budding NBA superstar. He’s a man on a mission in the NBA Playoffs, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves sweep the Phoenix Suns in 4 games.

In those 4 games, Edwards averaged 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6.25 assists and 2 steals. He delivered a performance for the ages in the clincher with 40 points, punctuated by an emphatic dunk over Kevin Durant.

Now, the Timberwolves will have to face the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round. The reigning NBA champions, the Nuggets finished off the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games and are led by dynamic big man Nikola Jokic.

If Edwards can produce another series win, it would be a performance of epic proportions for the young star. But, even if the Nuggets prove to be too much, it will not change the outlook for Edwards.

In his 4th NBA season, Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals. His overall efficiency is off the charts, and Edwards can flash game-changing moments on both ends of the floor.

Regardless of the Nuggets series, Edwards’ stock is at an all-time high, and he just finished is age-22 season. With all those facts considered, it’s time to ask.

Is Anthony Edwards the next face of the NBA?

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What people are saying

With the first round of the playoffs wrapping up, the all-time trio of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are eliminated. That makes this the first year without all 3 of those players in the second round since the 2005 playoffs.

All those players are still capable of big-time performances, but it is also fair to say they are past their prime years in the league. That opens up a void for a new face of the NBA, and Edwards is staking his claim in the playoffs.

In a discussion on The SVPod, Stanford Steve and Scott Van Pelt tackled the idea and admitted he’s certainly in the mix based on his youth and postseason performances:

“I love it because he’s just flat-out awesome to watch,” said Stanford Steve.

“He’s 22 years old,” said Van Pelt. “that’s what I keep coming back to. He’s 22 years old, so ‘face of the league,’ the next guy to be the guy. That’s kind of what we do in this media space now. We want to anoint you, give you a title… What Anthony Edwards is doing is changing who he is to the sports world… He feels inevitable to me.”

The crew on ESPN’s “Get Up” was split on the topic. Brian Windhorst nominated San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama for his 7-foot-4 frame and elite versatile skill set. Jay Williams admitted Edwards has the personality to be the face of the league, but he’s still going with Jokic as the current face of the NBA, even though Jokic is uninterested in that sort of unofficial title.

Monica McNutt eventually admitted Edwards has the total package to be the willing future face of the league.

“It’s Ant, for sure. He’s good enough to do it, he’s gregarious, great personality, he’s willing to work hard, supremely talented,” said McNutt. “It’s probably Ant.”

There’s one other aspect going for Edwards that went unspoken, even if it will feel blasphemous to hardened NBA fans. As a 6-foot-4 wing contributor, his recent NBA Playoff stretch conjures up images of the late Kobe Bryant or His Airness himself, Michael Jordan.

And, if there’s any doubt about his mentality, Edwards answered that after Minnesota went up 3-0 against the Suns.

“I just want to kill everything in front of me, man,” said Edwards to Van Pelt after a dramatic outing. “Pretty much, that’s all there is to it.”

Don’t mistake those comments for a comparison to MJ or Bryant. That would be unfair for any young player, but it would also be unfair to overlook Edwards in this discussion.

Edwards’ killer mentality is needed for any player to carry the weight of being the face of the NBA, and he’s showing an ability to elevate his game when the lights are at their brightest. If he keeps that trend going, it will be hard not to anoint him as the leader of the league.