Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe, ‘simply on the market having enjoyable,’ stars in house debut: ‘I am unable to watch for him to get began along with his profession’

PHILADELPHIA – VJ Edgecombe watches basketball… loads.

“I’m not even watching a Netflix show or nothing,” he mentioned after posting a dominant two-way efficiency within the ultimate recreation of his first NBA preseason. “I just need to go on YouTube to watch basketball… I just watch a lot of basketball.”

Edgecombe has smiled as viewers react with shock at his flashes of superior really feel as a ball-handler. He is a 20-year-old rookie, in spite of everything, and one in every of his supposed weaknesses getting into the 2025 NBA Draft was his on-ball ability. Before the season may even start, although, Edgecombe has confirmed a lot to his workforce that it reacted by placing him on the ball incessantly and shifting All-Star Tyrese Maxey away from it. He believes it’s the product of his obsession with watching basketball. However it occurred, it has modified the workforce’s calculus.

“I think we thought, ‘Okay, maybe he could play on the ball some,’ and we were talking about ‘Let’s do it at Summer League,'” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse mentioned after Friday’s exhibition win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. “But where we’re at, I think he’s way ahead of where we thought he might be being able to do that.”

Edgecombe recorded 26 factors, six rebounds, three assists and 5 steals towards the Timberwolves, shaking off a lackluster begin and quickly enhancing as the sport went on, clearly wanting like the most effective participant on the ground as the sport winded down.

If there may be anybody not stunned by what Edgecombe did when empowered to play with the ball, it’s the participant who was swiftly given the ball 5 years in the past and parlayed the chance into stardom and a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars}. How impressed is Maxey by Edgecombe’s fast consolation towards NBA defenders?

“Extremely,” Maxey mentioned. “…He makes good decisions, he doesn’t let people speed him up. I think he plays extremely mature for being a rookie. He’s good. He’s good at basketball.”

Any surprising ability growth Edgecombe experiences – or any strides he makes as a decision-maker – will probably be bonuses on prime of the super basis of tenacity and athleticism which makes it inconceivable to think about the No. 3 general choose failing to turn out to be an affect participant at this degree. He is a really elite athlete whose motor by no means stops working. That alone can take him plenty of locations that many gamers can’t attain. His blazing end-to-end velocity is actually outstanding to witness in particular person; Edgecombe’s teammates have already gotten the memo to search for him as quickly as a transition alternative presents itself.

Because of the infrastructure surrounding Edgecombe – Maxey is a longtime star, Jared McCain is as polished offensively as any 21-year-old may be and Quentin Grimes has a well-rounded skillset on each ends of the ground – there may be not a lot stress on the rookie’s shoulders within the short-term. But that doesn’t imply he won’t be thrown into the fireplace early. In reality, the other is true: Nurse plans to begin Edgecombe when the Sixers start the 2025-26 common season on Wednesday night time in Boston, and he is able to embrace the inevitable bumps within the highway.

Nurse mentioned the extent of success Edgecombe attains as a rookie will probably be decided by what number of minutes he logs. His objective is to assist Edgecombe expertise as a lot of the great and unhealthy that comes with being within the NBA as he can as a result of “that’s what playing in the league and gaining experience is all about.” But as early because the night time the Sixers tabbed Edgecombe as their latest franchise pillar, it was clear that no fireplace intimidates Edgecombe. He shows an unwavering sense of self-belief. It is real. Asked about that fearlessness on Friday night time, Edgecombe nearly regarded confused.

“I mean, I know I worked hard to be in this position,” Edgecombe mentioned. “…If I wasn’t ready for it, I wouldn’t have been here. I feel as though I just have a lot of confidence. My teammates instill confidence in me also. So, I won’t say it’s easy, but it’s basketball at the end of the day. I’m trying not to overthink it. I love the game so much… It just flows naturally, man. I’m just out there having fun.”

Flowing naturally can be a great way to explain the Sixers’ guard play on Friday. Maxey dominated early, then moved away from the ball and Edgecombe bought in a rhythm. In between their two heaters was one for Quentin Grimes. The three guards whose ages add as much as 69 years mixed to attain 75 factors. They all can threaten opposing defenses with or with out the ball of their palms and play with an amazing tempo.

“That’s the name of the game right now in the NBA: pushing the pace and getting up threes,” Grimes mentioned. “We’ve got a lot of guys who play fast, push the pace, create opportunities for not just ourselves but our teammates. So I feel like if we keep pushing the pace, it’ll get the defense tired. And it might get us tired, too, but we’ll be alright in the long run.”

For Maxey and Grimes, their off-ball scoring technique is the standard one: three-point capturing. Edgecombe has labored tirelessly to enhance his jumper, particularly including an arc to it so it’s not flat prefer it was throughout his lone collegiate marketing campaign at Baylor. He is a reliable shooter proper now, however in all probability not one who will probably be constantly dependable simply but.

Edgecombe’s transition scoring will probably be a weapon instantly, although, and he’s searching for out different avenues to attain. One of these is forcing turnovers; Edgecombe mentioned his favourite a part of Friday’s field rating was his 5 steals. After Friday morning’s shootaround, Edgecombe spoke in regards to the pleasure he takes in his defensive output and the way intensive finding out of the sport’s elite defenders has helped him develop. Another one is chopping, as Edgecombe continues to beat defenders back-door, although his ending might want to enhance:

On Friday night time, there have been just a few spotlight dunks, a pair of threes and a few acrobatic finishes on the rim. But Edgecombe’s first basket got here when his defender tagged a rolling Joel Embiid as a shot went up and Edgecombe stuffed the open lane for a straightforward put-back layup off the miss.

Edgecombe knew he would get that offensive rebound, he mentioned. The purpose he supplied: he simply is aware of when he’ll get an offensive rebound.

How?

“It’s natural,” Edgecombe mentioned.

Edgecombe is aware of he has an opportunity to make an affect on the glass, a rarity for a guard of his dimension. But he has developed a powerful understanding of tips on how to learn the place misses will ricochet, one other instance of his sturdy basketball instincts. The absurd athleticism doesn’t harm, both.

“And I jump pretty high,” Edgecombe mentioned. “So I can just go up there sometimes, snag it when they’re not looking, disrespecting it.”

Maybe for a participant believed to not but have a decent sufficient deal with to play on the ball within the NBA, Edgecombe’s unabashed confidence is the right ingredient for a profitable rookie season. If Friday’s displaying was any indication, there are lots of methods he has an opportunity to affect profitable for the Sixers.

“Kudos to him, dude,” Maxey mentioned. “The way he’s doing out here right now is good. I’m ready to see him in some real action, and I can’t wait for him to get started on his career.”

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