And just like that, the win streak continues for the Philadelphia 76ers. Fresh off an impressive win at home against the mighty Orlando Magic, the team has now racked up three straight dubs to kick off their campaign. As of writing, they are one of only four undefeated teams left, so one can safely say that they are on a great start.
As usual, Tyrese Maxey led the way in scoring, finishing the night with a game-high 43 points to go along with eight assists. He was not the only standout, though, as rookie guard VJ Edgecombe continued his sensational start to his freshman campaign, ending the outing with 26 markers and seven dimes.
At this point, we are all just in awe of Maxey’s brilliance, which is to be expected by now. Thus, it is probably more timely to talk about Edgecombe, who has been, without a doubt, the best rookie in the league — and it is not even close.
Of course, Edgecombe has been as good as advertised as a scorer. Coming out of Baylor, he was widely reckoned as perhaps the most NBA-ready prospect when it comes to putting the ball into the hoop. But having said that, he has already managed to broaden the base of his game, altering scouting reports right from the get go.
VJ Edgecombe has quietly grown into an efficient playmaker for the 76ers
Playmaking was not necessarily Edgecombe’s calling card, but that seems to be a thing of the past now. Through three games, he has averaged six assists per game, which leads all rookies so far.
Opposing defenses now have to be wary not only of his scoring prowess, but also of his table-setting. He rapidly became adept at leveraging his rim-driving to generate passing angles and open shots for his teammates, so he has definitely been backing up his promise to be a more well-rounded player for the team.
The season is still young, but if this keeps up, there is nothing that would prevent Edgecombe from running away with the Rookie of the Year award. Of course, the likes of Dylan Harper and even the struggling Cooper Flagg still have something to say about that, but given the 76ers’ dynamic, it’s probably VJ’s award to lose even at this juncture.
And that is all thanks to Edgecombe exceeding all expectations. Not only has he been NBA-ready, but his sheer maturity has made him even more valuable than people initially thought. That’s gotta be a thrilling reflection of the present and glimpse into the future for the 76ers.