Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe is already shaking up the league, landing at the No. 8 spot in HoopsHype’s ranking of the NBA’s top 27 shooting guards. This kid was the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, and he absolutely delivered an impressive rookie season, putting everyone on notice.
Rookie Season Was a Straight-Up Showstopper
Edgecombe’s first year was nothing short of impressive. He dropped 16.0 points, grabbed 5.6 boards, dished out 4.2 assists, and swiped 1.4 steals a night. Not too shabby, right? He shot 43.8% from the floor and 35.4% from deep, proving he’s got game from anywhere.
And get this: Edgecombe became the first rookie since Tim Duncan back in 1998 to hit 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game. He did that in a Game 2 road win against the Boston Celtics. Talk about shining when the lights are brightest and having big moments in the fourth quarter.
The Roster Crunch Is Real, But Edgecombe Is Ready
Now for the tricky part. Edgecombe’s second-year outlook for 2026-27 is gonna depend a lot on how the Sixers use LeBron James. You’ve got James, who could totally run point, plus Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, newly acquired Jaylen Brown, and star big man Joel Embiid all needing the ball in their hands. That’s a lot of firepower, and it creates a real roster puzzle.
That means Edgecombe’s offseason grind on his outside jumper is crucial. He was in the NBA’s 67th percentile as a spot-up shooter last season, producing 1.10 points per possession on that play type. That’s respectable, especially for a rookie, and he’s definitely going to get a ton of wide-open spot-up looks with this new-look Sixers squad.
Beyond the shooting, his explosiveness as a slasher and finisher around the basket was straight-up astounding for a first-year player, and we all expect it to get even better next season. Edgecombe is also a good rebounder and a solid playmaker for his position, plus he’s a disruptive defender, averaging nearly a steal and a half per game.
Edgecombe definitely has to find ways to adjust and stay helpful with this completely different Sixers squad. But with his high basketball IQ and a maniacal work ethic, there’s little doubt he’ll figure it out. Expect him to keep finding ways to contribute to Philly’s success.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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