Is apathy new cool in NBA? What stars including Anthony Edwards said

Anthony Edwards had a year to reconsider his position. 

After making it clear that he had no interest in becoming the next face of the NBA when LeBron James retires, Edwards was asked earlier this month if he had changed his mind. It’s a fair question for a 24-year-old whose prefrontal cortex isn’t expected to be fully developed for another year or so. 

But Edwards doubled down. 

“Man, those folks got (Victor) Wembanyama,” Edwards said before the All-Star Game. “They got Wembanyama. They’ll be all right.”

INGLEWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 26: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on February 26, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

The problem was during the league’s signature event, Edwards’ star shined brightest of all of the superstars, on and off the court. He oozed charm, flashed his signature smile, made a room filled with reporters laugh as he fielded questions — and then was named MVP of the All-Star Game. 

It’s a surprising position for a superstar to take, one that would’ve been unheard of in previous generations. 

Can you imagine a young Michael Jordan or James or Kobe Bryant saying they were uninterested in becoming the face of the league? They were clamoring for the role. They stepped on people’s throats for it. While they publicly chased championships, they also made it obvious that they embraced all of the ego, aura, esteem and acclaim that comes with being the best. 

It makes you wonder, is apathy the new cool in the NBA?

Edwards isn’t the only younger superstar who has shown a blase attitude at times. After the now-31-year-old Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to the 2023 championship, he was asked how he felt. 

“The job is done,” Jokic said in his walk-off interview with ABC. “We can go home now.”

Then, after celebrating with his teammates in the locker room, Jokic was asked if he was looking forward to the championship parade. 

“No,” he said, putting his hand on his forehead. “I need to go home.”

There are famous images of Jordan, James and Bryant crying after leading their teams to the mountaintop. Jokic essentially yawned. 

There are just 450 spots in the NBA. Only 1% of high school basketball players go on to play the sport at the NCAA Division I level, and only 1.1% of those Division I athletes make the NBA.

Considering those stats, taking for granted anything about playing in the NBA seems like a crime. And beyond that, not savoring winning championships or wanting to become the face of the league seems unfathomable. 

But here we are. 

Sure, being the face of the league comes with an ugly underbelly. That larger-than-life superstar is under an intense magnifying glass, relentless scrutiny (on and off the court), endless pressure and unyielding criticism. 

Just ask James, who became the face of the league shortly after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Cavaliers in 2003. Ever since he was 18 years old, he couldn’t make a mistake. And he hasn’t. 

But when asked about the ceremonial role, he made it clear pressure wasn’t the toughest part of it. Rather, he pointed out that it has transformed into something different in recent years as the discourse around the game has degenerated from celebration into criticism. 

“Channing Frye said it … why do you want to be the face of a league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s–t on everybody?” James asked a year ago. “When you have that responsibility, that’s just weird.”

Feb 25, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Even if being the face of the league has changed, what’s Jokic’s excuse for showing about as much excitement for winning a championship as a kid going back to school after summer break?

It’s fair to wonder whether that’s a lovable personality quirk or if it’s disrespectful to the game. 

Not all of the young stars have embraced apathy.  

The most prominent example of someone eschewing that trend: Wembanyama. 

He wants to be the next face of the league. 

In fact, he has taken things to the extreme by insisting upon playing defense during the All-Star Game, single-handedly rejecting the tradition of sauntering down the court. 

But after the game, other stars such as Edwards credited him for helping inspire the most competitive game in years. 

“I ain’t going to lie,” Edwards said. “Wemby set the tone.”

Right now, Wembanyama, Edwards, Luka Doncic, Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are considered next whenever the 41-year-old James decides to retire. 

All of those players are incredible. 

Each of them pours out their heart into the game every night. 

But it’s clear at least for some of them, the discourse around the game has changed. 

What would’ve been considered an anathema in years past is suddenly in vogue. 

An apparent lack of interest is now cool.