The Philadelphia 76ers loaded up this offseason, bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, but second-year standout VJ Edgecombe isn’t worried about finding his place. He’s actually banking on the opposition overlooking him, telling reporters, “It’s fine if they don’t respect me, I’ll just get a bunch of open shots.” Talk about confidence!
The Star Power Problem (For Opponents, That Is)
This 76ers squad is absolutely stacked. We’re talking about LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Opposing teams are going to have their hands full, trying to figure out how to stop just *two* of those guys, let alone all four. What does that mean for a talented player like Edgecombe? Opportunity, plain and simple. He knows all that defensive attention on the big names will leave him wide open. He’s ready to put in the work, too. “I’m just working. That’s the main thing for me. That comes with work. Whatever I want I got to work for it. I’m willing to do that,” he added. He’s not asking for anything, he’s earning it.
Ready for the Spotlight, Whenever It Comes
Edgecombe’s mindset is all about winning a championship, no matter what his specific role looks like. “I mean, it don’t matter what happens, there’s always going to be someone that has something to say,” he explained. “But I just want to win. I’m going to still be aggressive, still be myself. If that comes with less shots or more shots, who knows. I don’t know how the course of the game is going to go. I’m just excited to play alongside my teammates. I think we have a chance to do something really special.” And let’s be real, he’s probably going to get more shots than expected. With Joel Embiid’s long injury history and LeBron James hitting 41 years old, the team is going to manage their minutes carefully throughout the regular season. That means there will be plenty of games where one, or even both, of the stars are sidelined, opening up a bigger role for Edgecombe. He was a legit star-in-the-making last season as a rookie, dropping 16.0 points, pulling down 5.6 rebounds, dishing out 4.2 assists, and swiping 1.4 steals, all while hitting 35.4 percent from deep. His future is seriously bright.
The 76ers are gearing up for what could be a historic season, and while all eyes will be on the superstars, VJ Edgecombe is clearly ready to seize every chance he gets. He thinks they have a shot to do “something really special,” and with his attitude and talent, he might just be the x-factor no one sees coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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