Over the years, the Philadelphia 76ers have had torrid luck with their rookie prospects reaching their perceived potential. However, times are changing as Philadelphia opted to select the extraordinary VJ Edgecombe with their third overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft as an alternative to the highly touted Ace Bailey, who eventually landed with the Utah Jazz. Despite both players being expected to take a similar trajectory, Edgecombe's and Bailey's careers have taken diverging paths.
Ben Simmons' catastrophic decline, Jahlil Okafor's need for speed, and finally, Markelle Fultz's disastrous shooting woes -- it is clear that the Sixers have fallen victim to some form of horrific basketball voodoo. The 76ers could not afford to waste another lottery pick on a rising star who would be destined to bust. As it stands, the franchise could not have made a better decision.
Edgecombe's excellence exacerbates Bailey's struggles
Ace Bailey sealed his own fate during the draft process, as the rookie opted against attending workouts with several teams he deemed not suitable for a 'star' of his talents. Having outstanding attributes is only half the battle when climbing to the summit of the NBA on an individual level; a player must also have a tunnel-visioned mentality to fulfill their potential.
Unfortunately, his lack of maturity cost him the opportunity to rub shoulders with arguably one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, Joel Embiid. Additionally, Bailey would not be able to access a wealth of knowledge that players such as Paul George, Kyle Lowry, and Andre Drummond possess. Sliding doors moments are very much a reality, and in the case of this young man, he may have severely hindered his own development.
In Utah, Bailey is in a transitional environment with a franchise that is in the early stages of discovering its identity -- something that is affecting his numbers. The 19-year-old is averaging 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and just 1.5 assists per game. To make matters worse, injury issues have amplified the difficult period he has been going through as he has missed seven of his last eight games due to a left hip flexor strain.
In comparison, VJ Edgecombe is thriving and has manufactured one of the most exciting partnerships in the entire league with the electric Tyrese Maxey. Explosive. Athletic. Energetic. Clutch. These are just several adjectives to describe the attributes that the former Baylor star possesses. The versatile guard has recorded 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Nevertheless, it is his two-way development that has been most impressive.
During Edgecombe's Summer League appearances, the rookie displayed a player with undeniable potential, but his inefficient jump shot and decision-making ability left a lot to be desired. Yet, the 20-year-old came into the season exhibiting a highly polished technique and a more potent shooting ability. The resources available to Edgecombe in preseason clearly played a positive role in his evolution. Again, Bailey has missed out on this incredible opportunity, with only himself to blame.
Of course, concluding which player will have the most successful career would be foolish, given that they have barely scratched the surface of what they can achieve. However, the remarkable performance levels of VJ Edgecombe must leave the Philadelphia 76ers feeling a sense of gratitude that they opted against selecting Ace Bailey with their lottery pick.