The Philadelphia 76ers are officially coming down from cloud nine as rookie phenom VJ Edgecombe hits the proverbial rookie wall. It's a development they should've seen coming, as even the best of first-year players inevitably encounter cold spells and a harsh dose of reality.
Edgecombe has proven that he's ready for the moment and capable of playing winning basketball from day one, but the 76ers must realize that relying on him to deliver victories is a flawed strategy.
Edgecombe has stolen headlines and emerged as the early frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. Through eight appearances, he's averaging 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made per game on .445/.391/.810 shooting.
Heralded for his defensive intensity, advanced shot-making, and unexpected playmaking, Edgecombe has drawn comparisons to Hall of Fame shooting guard Dwyane Wade.
The reality remains, however, that he's a 20-year-old rookie who still has much to learn about how to navigate an 82-game NBA season. He's also an inexperienced player being asked to defend opposing teams' best scorers, put up points at a near All-Star level, and operate as a secondary facilitator.
Edgecombe should continue to turn in a stellar rookie season, but the 76ers are learning quickly that putting the burden of winning games on a first-year player is an unstable strategy.
76ers phenom VJ Edgecombe will inevitably struggle at times as a rookie
Edgecombe struggling is a relative term considering how reliable his effort and intensity already are on the defensive end of the floor. The fact remains, however, that he's shot 4-of-12 or worse from the field in three of his past five games.
That includes a 4-of-12 performance in a 113-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 4 and a 3-of-14 showing in a 132-121 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 5.
For as easy as it is to wonder if one or both of those games could've gone differently had Edgecombe shot more efficiently, it's too soon to place that burden on him. He may welcome the challenge, but the 76ers have proven early in 2025-26 that they have realistic postseason ambitions.
Rather than depending on Edgecombe to perform at a star-caliber level in order to win, the 76ers must find an ideal balance between highlighting his strengths and requiring him to step up.
Tyrese Maxey is an early MVP candidate, and whether or not he sustains his superstar level of play, he's already an All-Star who should at least settle back in at an elevated tier. Joel Embiid, meanwhile, is a former MVP who has appeared in five of the 76ers' first eight games and should continue to be relatively regularly available.
Philadelphia also has a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Quentin Grimes, a productive two-way wing in Kelly Oubre Jr., and highly-anticipated returns to look forward to by Paul George and Jared McCain.
Edgecombe must still continue to receive a high volume of touches and shot attempts, as his development is an essential priority and his early history proves he can contribute to winning. The 76ers need to have alternative methods of pursuing victory, however, if they want to avoid the pitfalls of a rookie season.
It's a difficult road to traverse, but head coach Nick Nurse must find a way to be realistic about how Edgecombe will inevitably struggle without depriving him of a featured role.