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VJ Edgecombe Keeps Talking Like He’s a Star, and We Should Start Believing Him
By Sean Barnard
Published:
From the second the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick in last year’s draft, it was extremely clear that confidence was not something he lacked.
It took just minutes after he was drafted to win over a large portion of the fan base with his personality. After opening up about his experience growing up living off a generator and battling some tears, it did not take long for him to flip the switch into letting his confidence shine. He showered Tyrese Maxey with praise, gloating about his excitement to share a backcourt with him. Edgecombe was then asked by NBA on Prime’s Taylor Rooks, with whom NBA players have a tendency to exaggerate a bit when speaking, about what kind of athlete Philadelphia fans are getting.
“They getting a unique athlete man,” Edgecombe stated. “I think I’m the best athlete in the class if you ask me. I can jump as high as anybody in here. Run as fast as anybody in here. Imma play my heart out man.”
Edgecombe offered that he was willing to play whatever role was asked of him. This role ended up being even larger than the most ambitious of expectations coming into the year.
The Baylor product announced his presence in the NBA scene by dropping 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and shooting 13-for-26 from the field in his debut game. He was vital to leading the team to a win, with Tyrese Maxey’s 40 points also a major story. This also happened to come against the Boston Celtics, whom he will get even more familiar with in this opening-round series:
For what it’s worth, Edgecombe averaged 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across his four matchups with Boston this year.
On the season as a whole, the Baylor product averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across his rookie season. He has seen his role shift as injuries limited the rest of the roster. Losing Paul George for 25 games due to suspension, Maxey for three weeks for his finger injury, and Embiid for all his injury issues have forced Edgecombe to play more on-ball and has accelerated his developmental process. The rookie led the Sixers in games played, trailed only Maxey in total minutes played, and ranked 11th in the NBA in both minutes per game and total minutes.
While Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel had special rookie seasons that have captured the attention of the media a bit more, this is a Rookie of the Year quality season in just about any normal year.
What is especially rare about Edgecombe is his combination of athleticism and intangibles. He is in the top percentile of athletes, even in a league loaded with plenty of high flyers. But unlike a lot of players who fall into this category, there is an advanced basketball feel to his processing of the game. The 20-year-old has largely become the glue of this Sixers team. He sees his role change on a game-by-game basis and impacts winning at a high level consistently. Edgecombe has led the team in scoring, assists, and rebounds in different games this season while routinely matching up with the opposing team’s best players.
At times, phrases like toughness and “dawg mentality” are buzzwords leaned on far too frequently. But Edgecombe embodies it in a way that has not been seen in a Sixers uniform since the Jimmy Butler days. He has a knack for getting the tough rebounds, scrounging up loose balls, and tends to be the first guy in the mix whenever any sort of dust-up occurs. These are difference-making traits in a playoff setting.
The fearlessness he possesses is evident in his play, and Edgecombe is not afraid to let it be known with his words either:
I mean, it took less than a season for him to land a brand deal with TJ Maxx as a play on the “VJ Maxx” nickname, and start rocking sun glasses:
The outlook for this playoff series with the Celtics still largely falls on the shoulders of Paul George and the appendix of Joel Embiid. But the biggest takeaway from the series will likely be how Edgecombe fares in his first playoff opportunity. Watching the Maxey and Edgecombe backcourt face off against the Celtics for the first time should provide a window into the future and some hope for the present. The Sixers have never lost a playoff series with Edgecombe on the roster, for what it’s worth.
Given all that Edgecombe has shown and the confidence he has expressed, don’t expect the rookie to blink at the weight of the moment. There will be some big picture conversations about the future of the Sixers when this season does come to an end. But Edgecombe has made it abundantly clear that he is a foundational part of all discussions moving forward.
Edgecombe has carried himself like a star, has looked the part of being a star, and it is time for us to start talking about him in this light.
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.