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It’s Time to Start Getting Irrationally Excited About VJ Edgecombe
By Sean Barnard
Published:
VJ Edgecombe has now played six games across his young NBA career. The third-overall pick has not looked anything like a rookie, posting averages of 20.3 points, 5.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals on an efficient 49.5% shooting from the field and 42.1% on three-point attempts.
He leads all rookies in points, assists, steals, and made field goals while ranking second in made three-pointers, second in plus/minus, and is fifth in rebounds. Edgecombe is also clocking 39.0 minutes per game, which not only leads all rookies but ranks second in the entire league. The only player ahead of him is his backcourt mate Tyrese Maxey, who leads the league at 42.5 minutes per. Both of these numbers will settle a bit with the return of Jared McCain. But the fact that Edgecombe has been granted this level of trust from Nick Nurse and delivered on these opportunities is as positive of a sign as is possible.
Digging back up past draft debates, there was plenty of heated conversation regarding Ace Bailey vs. Edgecombe. The perceived argument was that Edgecombe was the safer pick while Bailey was the superstar lottery swing. It is true that Edgecombe was more NBA-ready from day one. This has been especially proven by the fact that Bailey is logging just 17.6 minutes per game on a lowly Utah Jazz team with averages of just 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds on 27.5% shooting from the floor and 13.3% on three-pointers.
But don’t let the concept of a player having a high floor confuse you that the ceiling is low. From day one Edgecombe is a starting-caliber NBA guard who is making a significant impact on a 5-1 basketball team. He also has flashed legitimate star potential that is worth getting excited about. The Baylor product has guarded opponents’ best players, knocked down some crucial fourth-quarter three-pointers, and has been inches away from a few highlight-reel dunks that no Sixers player has had the stones or ability to even attempt in years:
Sure, six games is far too short to have a full understanding of him as a player or what he will grow into just yet. But nothing about his play has looked like a guy just getting a feel for the NBA. Edgecombe plays under control, and the game has not looked too fast for him at any point.
There are stretches where he looks like an Anthony Edwards clone, down to the extreme athleticism and similar shot forms. He also has qualities similar to a young Dwyane Wade and Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell. Purely speaking on his style of play and movement ability, you can catch me throwing out a certain former Bulls player who wore number 23 and has a sneaker brand named after him if you catch me in the right mood.
How good exactly Edgecombe will be is still to be determined. But the chemistry alongside Maxey is clear, and the duo have complementary skillsets that will only get better with time. The two have already built up a pretty clear chemistry and will have a case for the best backcourt in the NBA in the not-too-distant future.
This also comes without bringing up Jared McCain, who is expected to make his season debut during Tuesday’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Last year’s 16th overall pick averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds across 25.7 minutes per game in 23 games last season before it ended due to a meniscus tear. He would have been the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year had he not gotten injured and flashed All-Star potential of his own. McCain has been upgraded to probable for the matchup with Chicago after working his way back from a UCL tear in his right thumb that delayed his season start.
It will be a work in progress to figure out how all these talented guards fit together, but this is a far better problem to have than plenty they have faced in the past. Given the fact that Maxey and Edgecombe have played the most minutes of any individual players in the league, there is surely some room for McCain.
What once looked like a rapidly-closing championship window has been pulled back open with an injection of young talent. Maxey has proven he is capable of being a legitimate All-Star guard that keeps getting better, and his ideal running mate looks to already be in a Sixers uniform alongside him. The VJ Edgecombe era in Philadelphia has officially begun.
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.