One Philadelphia 76ers player who could get lost in the sauce is the former University of Kentucky forward, Justin Edwards.
Despite being a diamond-in-the-rough signing for the Sixers during his rookie season in 2024, Edwards is now scratching and clawing for minutes on a star-studded Sixers team. Fortunately, his veteran teammates aren't forgetting about him.
The two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey went out of his way mention Edwards during his post-practice media availability on day two of training camp. The veteran guard shined a light on the idea that a newcomer like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be a major presence for Edwards, who has to prove a lot to keep his spot on the roster.
Justin Edwards will get the support he needs
"I think he's going to be great for guys like Justin," Maxey said on Wednesday. "Like, really, really, really good. That's a two-time champion that Justin can look at and see kind of in the same role a little bit, but a wing defender, a shooter. Justin can score a little bit, too."
The Sixers haven't put too much focus on their offense in the first two days of practice. The head coach, Nick Nurse, is working on putting an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball, and some offensive-minded players are getting a chance to shine on the other side of the ball.
It's been a quiet training camp for Edwards so far, but maybe spending more time with a guy like Caldwell-Pope will do wonders for the 22-year-old, who has clearly shown value with what he can bring to the table over two years.
Follow the leader
Caldwell-Pope won't be a veteran that starters follow. Maxey is clearly a captain, while Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James have so much experience that they don't exactly need guidance from one of their bench guys.
However, it's a different story for Edwards. Caldwell-Pope has started plenty of games in the NBA (784 out of 963), but he's been a role player for the entirety of his pro run. Edwards would be wise to follow his lead.
Since entering the NBA in 2013, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 11.0 points, 1.1 steals, and 2.9 rebounds, while shooting 36.5% from three. He's been on two championship-winning squads, having a key role in both.
Edwards appeared in 108 games for the Sixers during his two-year run. He produced 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and just under one steal per game, while shooting 36.8% from three in 19.7 minutes of action. That kind of playing time will be difficult to land in 2026-2027, but year three will be a season of soaking up knowledge from the valuable vets the Sixers added. In Maxey's eyes, Edwards needs to follow KCP's leadership.
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