5 stars vying to dethrone LeBron James and be crowned as the new face of the NBA

2) Anthony Edwards

Already dubbed by some as the next Michael Jordan, Anthony Edwards is ready for the crown, he simply has to grab it. After bursting on the scene as a 19-year-old rookie, Edwards has continued to improve in each season in the league.

Before becoming the self-proclaimed star of Team USA, Edwards led the Timberwolves to their third straight playoff appearance and their first top-three finish in the West since 2003-04. For nearly 20 years, the Timberwolves were widely considered more of a punch line than a competitive NBA team.

No player has been able to lift this franchise the way Edwards has. Yes, Karl Anthony-Town and Rudy Gobert are important contributors to this team, and the depth is rounding out nicely between Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid, but the irreplaceable cog on this team has unquestionably been Anthony Edwards.

His personality will rub some the wrong way, but great players who know they're great always do. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and even Michael himself were not universally loved. While some of those issues transcended basketball, it's also true that greatness breeds animosity.

Many have and will continue to take issue with his, at times, immature approach to the game, but his infectious personality will enamor many more. Already one of the biggest stars in the NBA, Edwards' trajectory continues to aim upward. As he enters his age 23 season, the future still largely belongs to Anthony Edwards.