This 76ers rookie is proving to be the missing piece they've been searching for

On January 14th, the Philadelphia 76ers faced off against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder without eight players – including Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Jared McCain. Someone needed to pick up the slack for the depleted 76ers and undrafted free agent Justin Edwards did just that – posting a career-high 25 points on 9-16 shooting from the field, six rebounds, and four assists in a noble 118-102 loss. 

That performance caught the eyes of Philadelphia fans and its front office alike as Edwards’ two-way contract was converted into a standard NBA deal for the remainder of the season less than one month later. Since then, Edwards has cemented himself in the 76ers’ rotation – starting in 18 of their 27 games since his breakout game against the Thunder.

Justin Edwards rise to success

However, Edwards was caught in the wave of injuries that dismantled Philadelphia’s roster in the coming weeks. Between February 20th and March 4th, Edwards missed four of the 76ers’ seven games due to a left ankle sprain, which temporarily halted the momentum he gained. When Edwards fully returned on March 6th, he shot less than 35% from the field in three of Philadelphia’s four games within this stretch. 

Between his lingering injury and the inevitable cold stretches that many rookies endure, Edwards struggled to consistently impose his will, but he promptly rekindled the flame that sparked his ascension.

Justin Edwards is here to stay

In his last three games, Edwards averaged 20.7 points per game on 53.5 shooting from the field and 47.6 shooting from beyond the arc. Tonight, he tied his career-high with 25 points on 75.1% true-shooting and five rebounds in Philadelphia's 128-120 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Edwards is one of seven rookies – including Jared McCain – to recorded multiple 25-point performances this season.

Edwards is playing the best basketball of his youthful career as he’s not only making an impact as a “3&D” wing, but he’s also been showcasing the ability to score from all three levels. Edwards has succeeded at smoking defenders off the dribble to either finish at the rim or pull up from the mid-range – the very skills that plummeted his draft stock and led him to go undrafted.

Like all rookies, Edwards still has areas that he needs to improve on such as shot selection, playmaking, and defensive positioning. All of those facets will improve over time and once they do, Edwards is destined to be one of the most formidable two-way wings in the NBA. He has a $2 million team option for the 2025-26 season and it’s a no-brainer for the 76ers to accept it.