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VJ Edgecombe Has Become the Sixers’ Glue
By Sean Barnard
Published:
The concept of “tanking” will forever be met with pushback over the competitive integrity of the sport. But organizations will always be willing to sacrifice a season to get a franchise-altering player that shifts their direction over the course of the next decade.
This was the calculus that the Sixers landed on as last year’s season began to slip toward disaster. With Joel Embiid and Paul George’s injury issues flaring up, they elected to maximize their chances of keeping their top-six protected draft pick and limped to a 24-58 finish to secure the third overall pick. Less than half a season into VJ Edgecombe’s rookie season, it is pretty evident that this was absolutely the right call.
Edgecombe did not take long to win over the fan base, discussing how he grew up without electricity while declaring that he hopes to retire alongside Tyrese Maxey:
To this point, Edgecombe has played 36 games at the NBA level. He earned the starting shooting guard job coming out of training camp, which deserves a bit more credit than has been given. Sure, it feels obvious now after getting a legitimate sample size of who he is as a player. But Nurse showing the willingness to start him from day one is a decision not all coaches would have had the stones to make.
Most of the time, when a player is selected this high in the draft, it comes paired with a team that holds few expectations. The Sixers are in a strange place as a franchise after last year’s disaster. But the fact of the matter is they hold a 22-18 record and are firmly in the playoff mix in a weak Eastern Conference.
So far this season, Edgecombe is posting averages of 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He’s shooting 38.2% from three on 5.9 attempts per game, and has particularly excelled in the biggest moments. Across the 20 games and 108.4 clutch minutes he’s logged this season, Edgecombe has scored 57 points on 22-of-40 shooting from the field (55%), including 11-for-20 on three-point attempts (also 55%). He’s added 25 rebounds, five steals, and four blocks in these opportunities.
Edgecombe also looks to be a perfect back court complement to Maxey, who has improved quite a bit defensively since coming into the league, but having Edgecombe as more of a defensive-minded counterpart helps balance things and makes life a lot easier for rounding out the rest of the roster. The rookie is also not shy to speak confidence in how good the duo can be:
Side note – it’s pretty cool of Edgecombe to give a shoutout to Jared McCain amid his sophomore struggles. McCain was a DNP in the most recent game and has seen his field goal percentage slip to 35.4%. In the long run, I am still bullish on McCain’s outlook. But it feels pretty clear that he is not in the plans for this season, as the late start via injury is a hurdle he hasn’t been able to clear.
What is most impressive about Edgecombe is the way his role tends to differ on a night-to-night basis. When Joel Embiid is unavailable, he is responsible for filling more of the scoring production. When Maxey or Grimes is missing or just off the floor, he is responsible for essentially running the Sixers’ offense. The Baylor product has been tasked with guarding opponents’ best players on a regular basis and is consistently the top option in transition, even when the team is at full strength:
When looking through the lens of this season, VJ Edgecombe is the glue of this Sixers team. He is willing to defer to the higher contract guys when the situation calls, but is capable of stepping into a more forward-facing role when it’s best for the team.
This is putting to the side what he can be in the long-run. Edgecombe has absolutely shown flashes of a player capable of being an All-Star caliber talent and beyond. In a different situation, he could be putting up clear Rookie of the Year-caliber stats and be leading this campaign across the entire league. But for the time being, he has proved he is an essential part of this Sixers team and should continue to be recognized as such. Nick Nurse clearly trusts him at a high level, and he will remain a staple of this team. Count on the rookie making some plays well beyond his years for the remainder of this season, and hopefully the duration of his career.
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.