Although much of the early attention has gone to former Duke standouts Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe has quietly emerged as one of the most impressive first-year players in the league.
As noted by Tony Jones of The Athletic, the player appears to be ahead of schedule in his development and continues to validate Philadelphia’s decision to select him with the No. 3 overall pick.
That progress was on full display in a dramatic overtime win against Memphis, where Edgecombe delivered one of his best performances of the season.
He finished with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals while logging nearly 41 minutes.
His night was capped off by a clutch three-pointer with two seconds remaining in overtime, sealing the victory. He also connected on five shots from beyond the arc, showing both confidence and poise under pressure.
Teammate Tyrese Maxey wasn’t surprised by the moment, noting that Edgecombe had been vocal about wanting the opportunity to take a game-winning shot.
“VJ has been telling us for three weeks that he deserves to shoot a game-winner,” Maxey said. “I said, OK. I trust him. I knew he would shoot it with confidence. He took the shot, and he made it.
“We’re blessed to have him. You can thank the basketball gods, or (Sixers president of basketball operations) Daryl Morey, or whoever. He’s got a chance to be a special player.”
Eastern Notes: Edgecombe, Wizards, Hall, Williams, Cavs https://t.co/a0wzuaY4wh pic.twitter.com/Sk9PPQl2Cy
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 31, 2025
