That surely did not take long for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Led by VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers kicked off their Summer League slate in Salt Lake City with their eyes on giving their incoming rookies and sophomores as much run as possible to accelerate their development before the upcoming season.
Edgecombe, Philadelphia’s third overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, had all eyes on him the moment he the took the floor — and boy did he not disappoint.
In just slightly above 29 minutes of game play, the Baylor standout poured in 28 points while corralling 10 boards and dishing out four assists. He made 13 of his 27 field goal attempts while also draining a three-pointer. He finished the game as a game-high +10, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways right off the bat.
It even gets better when you consider who he was up against — Ace Bailey and the Utah Jazz.
76ers undoubtedly made the right decision to pick VJ Edgecombe over Ace Bailey
While Edgecombe stunned many with his riveting Summer League debut, the same cannot be said for Bailey, his counterpart, who looked really rough in his first foray into the big league.
While the Jazz escaped with a close win, Rutgers star ended the night logging just eight points and seven rebounds in more than 24 minutes of court time, missing 10 of his 13 shots and all but one of his five attempts from rainbow country. The divisive rookie looked the part of a freshman, and forced the issue numerous times despite an off night shooting the ball.
As we already know (remember the messy SL debut of Wemby back in 2023?), it is way too hasty to put much stock in one Summer League game, moreso the foremost one. But having said that, fans can comfortably say that the 76ers made the right choice choosing Edgecombe over Bailey.
Bailey, at this point in his career, profiles as someone who will require a lot of time to blossom into a productive NBA player. That has long been the sentiment, which makes him a good fit for a Utah Jazz team not expected to go after wins next season.
But for the 76ers, Edgecombe was definitely the one they needed from this year’s draft class. He is, without a doubt, the more NBA-ready of the two, and already packs a very solid and well-rounded game with his scoring ability, sheer athleticism, and growth as a playmaker.
Thankfully, this is only the start for VJ Edgecombe this summer as the Philadelphia 76ers are also set to play in the Vegas circuit of the Summer League.