VJ Edgecombe has been everything the Philadelphia 76ers wanted and more when they drafted him third overall in 2025. But because of the unbelievable seasons Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are having with the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, respectively, Edgecombe adding a Rookie of the Year award to his resume is essentially a pipedream.
Regardless, awards don't tell the whole story. Even though the Bahamas native is most likely going to finish third or below in the voting, there is no doubt about the impact he has made in Philadelphia already, as well as how bright his future looks.
The 76ers got a good one in Edgecombe. And even if he doesn't add any hardware to his collection this year, the team should feel incredibly optimistic about what he will bring to the table moving forward.
VJ Edgecombe has a bright future with the 76ers
In 71 games this season, the 20-year-old has averaged 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 43.9% from the field and 35.8% from deep. He is also a big reason the 76ers are at least returning to the Play-In Tournament this year, and he's going to be a big reason for their success in the long run.
Edgecombe's ability to impact the game in every area makes him such a valuable asset to the team. He can drop 30 points while shooting 50% from the field while also playing disruptive defense, grabbing boards, and bringing his all from buzzer to buzzer. And the fact that the 76ers can pair him alongside Tyrese Maxey, another young guard with star potential, is incredible.
When the 76ers drafted Edgecombe last year, team president Daryl Morey spoke about what he brings to the table and made it clear that he sees All-Star potential in the guard (h/t Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer).
“He’s a dynamic athlete, potential All-Star, two-way player,” Morey said. “Really helped his team. He’s got all these winning qualities that we think fit. Great teammate. His story and what he has done to get to this point is really unbelievable.
He won't go first overall in a 2025 NBA Re-draft five years from now. Flagg probably still goes No. 1, Knueppel might jump up to No. 2, and we can't ignore that Dylan Harper is playing some fantastic basketball for the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs (and is even younger than Edgecombe). But the Baylor alum is far and away one of the best players from this year's draft, and he should continue to make a strong impact in Philadelphia for years to come.