The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off their worst season since the 2015-16 campaign, though there is a silver lining to their struggles.
The Sixers landed the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft following a 13th-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season, selecting Baylor standout V.J. Edgecombe. The 6-foot-5 swingman impressed during his lone collegiate season, averaging 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals across 32.7 minutes per game in 33 outings.
The 20-year-old has a chance to carve out a significant role with Philadelphia immediately. He’ll also be surrounded by plenty of veterans, who have already noticed his potential to become a two-way star at the highest level.
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Andre Drummond praises V.J. Edgecombe’s confidence
Edgecombe’s athleticism, motor and two-way skills are enough to impress, though veteran big man Andre Drummond was immediately won over by his confidence, according to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.
“The first day I saw V.J., I was instantly impressed,” he said. “My favorite thing about him is his confidence.”
The 76ers will need Edgecombe to produce in his rookie season, especially considering Jared McCain is expected to miss the beginning of the season due to a UCL tear in his right thumb. The rookie’s confidence will be critical in making that happen, as he’ll likely need some time to adjust to the NBA game.
With veterans like Drummond, Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon and Kelly Oubre on the team, Edgecombe will have plenty of proven voices to learn from.
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