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Get Ready for V.J. Edgecombe to go Mainstream
By Sean Barnard
Published:
The Sixers are going to be at the center of the sports universe this season.
LeBron James and Jaylen Brown have injected a necessary spark of life into a franchise that has failed to reach their postseason goal going on almost 10 years now. There’s legitimate buzz and hope in a way that has been missing for a few seasons. The Sixers will have the maximum number of nationally televised games allowed, they’ll be the opening segments of national shows, and should be viewed as the most legitimate contenders they’ve been across this entire era.
But this is not “star hunting” in the way that has blown up in the past. James and Brown join a foundation that will start this team several rungs up on the ladder across the NBA landscape. There has been plenty of conversation about Joel Embiid, and how the former MVP and two-time scoring champion will fit into this new star-studded roster. Tyrese Maxey took the All-NBA leap last season, and his game has ascended year in and year out across his six seasons in the league. However, not enough attention has been paid to the 21-year-old difference maker coming off an All-Rookie season last year.
The Sixers selected V.J. Edgecombe with the third overall pick in the 2025 draft. Edgecombe was a terrific consolation prize of a disastrous season in which Embiid’s injury issues hit their peak, and the Paul George free agency addition blew up in the team’s face as his health issues proved prevalent the season before. The new duo combined to play just 60 total games, and the Sixers limped to a 24-58 record; their worst since the 10-win season in 2015-16 to earn a place in the draft lottery.
But not only does has the Baylor product established himself as a foundational part of the team’s future beyond the era of aging stars, he very well may be the perfect fifth starter on this star-studded team.
“I’m going out there to hoop,” Edgecombe said through tears just minutes following the Sixers officially selecting him on draft night. “Whatever they need me to do. I’m just going to impact the game. Be the best player I can be.”
Words are one thing, but Edgecombe walked the walk with his versatility in the ever-changing picture of the roster around him. There were games where the 21-year-old was asked to step up as a lead offensive engine while Embiid, George, and even Maxey dealt with ailments. He announced his presence with 34 points in his debut against the Boston Celtics, and eclipsed this total in two other matchups last year while scoring 20+ in 23 games. Edgecombe also was asked to play more of a defensive-minded role when the team was at full strength and willingly took on the challenge of guarding opposing teams’ best players while more than holding his own in this area:
While his role will remain a bit malleable as the Sixers feel out the best way to manage Embiid and James in the twilight of their careers, the willingness and ability to embrace the dirty work of role-player-like responsibilities is a rare trait. Edgecombe is an above-average rebounder for his size, has shown some encouraging flashes as a playmaker, and possesses eye-popping athleticism that ranks in the top percentile even amongst the world’s best athletes. There will be stretches where these skillsets are increasingly called upon this season with the stars ahead of him in the pecking order of note.
Edgecombe shot 35.4% from beyond the three-point arc last season on 5.6 perimeter attempts per game. His efficiency slipped in the postseason, as he knocked down just 29.2% of his long-range attempts, while his volume increased to 6.5 long-range shots per game. With Embiid returning to the floor for the bulk of these playoff matchups, George playing the best basketball of his Sixers career, and Maxey with a deserving place at the top of the scouting report, the Celtics and Knicks elected to sag off of the rookie in an effort to prioritize the others. He shot just 26.1% from deep during the four-game sweep at the hands of the Knicks. This efficiency dip and its effects on the team were not lost on Edgecombe.
“Coming into next year a team won’t ever leave me open,” he told reporters during his exit interview. “In the regular season I was shooting the ball pretty well. Playoffs come, it’s a different vibe. Intensity, fire, closeouts are a lot quicker…I’m gonna work. That’s all I’m gonna do, whatever I gotta do to get better.”
Given the other names on this new-look roster, Edgecombe will only benefit more from being left open. Across the regular season last year, he shot 38.7% on catch-and-shoot three-pointers and 42.9% on three-pointers when he was left wide open by the NBA’s tracking data. He strangely shot 23.7% on wide open three-pointers in the postseason, compared to 44.0% when he was just open, which is considered when a defender is within four to six feet.
Since this point, Edgecombe has suited up for the Bahamas in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and unveiled some new areas of his skill set. The sample size is admittedly small, but the Sixers’ guard has shot 18-for-31 (58.1%) across the three games played, shooting 5-for-10 or better from deep or better in each game.
There has been plenty said about the impact of the roster changes on Edgecombe’s trajectory. Contrarians from both sides of the aisle have argued that his growth will be stunted due to the lack of touches, or that he could be the best fifth option of all time.
Expectations changed greatly following the arrival of LeBron James, and this will be a season viewed through a championship lens. But in the wider view, there is a clear pathway to Edgecombe taking the responsibility of the franchise on his shoulders as the older stars begin to phase out.
But in the short-term, expect Edgecombe to catch quite a few eyes this season. There is rightfully plenty of acknowledgment surrounding the more notable names, but expect the eye-popping highlights on both ends of the floor and ability to scale up his offensive workload when necessary to put him on the map for the general NBA fans this season. He’s the type of personality and player that is easy to fall in love with, and expect his name to start being mentioned in some conversations and rankings that should be thrilling to Sixers fans.
Edgecombe’s story is far from finished, but this is going to be a crucial chapter of his story. Expect plenty of takes and headlines surrounding him for all the best reasons as it plays out.
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.