When the Philadelphia 76ers selected VJ Edgecombe in the draft, they added him to a backcourt that was already stocked with talent in Tyrese Maxey, rookie Jared McCain, and, at least for now, Quentin Grimes.
The decision was largely driven by Edgecombe’s athleticism, flashes of shooting promise, and especially his defensive upside.
In the first two preseason games, it’s that defensive potential that has already stood out, writes DJ Siddiqi of RG.
Head coach Nick Nurse has been impressed with how quickly the rookie has made his presence felt on that end of the court.
Nurse noted that Edgecombe was disruptive and aggressive, particularly in the passing lanes, causing problems for opposing guards.
For Edgecombe, that kind of impact isn’t surprising – it’s central to how he sees himself as a player.
“I pride myself on defense,” he explained.
“I’m definitely looking forward to all matchups, just because I know every night I’m going to have to guard a lot of great players, future Hall of Famers. I’m excited for every matchup to be honest.”
Atlantic Notes: Saraf, Powell, Edgecombe, Martin https://t.co/RPN9yxSELf pic.twitter.com/qNqryuxV4l
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 6, 2025
