V.J. Edgecombe aces first NBA test in 76ers Summer League debut, full grades

The Philadelphia 76ers kicked off their biggest Summer League campaign in eight years in the most dramatic way possible. After months of discourse, V.J. Edgecombe and the 76ers faced off against Ace Bailey and the Utah Jazz tonight. Although Philadelphia fell 93-89, Edgecombe got the better of Bailey and sent the controversy to bed – at least for now. There was a lot to like from the Summer 76ers, so let’s get into some grades!

V.J. Edgecombe: A

Edgcombe was nervous during his pre-draft workout in Philadelphia and those butterflies fluttered early on. He came out aggressive, but was a little too eager to score – recording a few live-ball turnovers in the first half. Still, his confidence never wavered and he eventually found success as a two-way menace. Edgecombe led all scorers with 28 points on 13-26 shooting from the field, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three stocks (steals and blocks).

Even when Edgecombe wasn’t scoring, he walled off paths to the rim off the point-of-attack, hustled for rebounds, recorded timely blocks, and aggressively navigated screens. He got easy opportunities in transition – whether it was a thunderous jam or catching an unsuspecting defense off guard. Edgecombe showcased bursts of on-ball scoring with evasive drives and pull-ups from mid-range. Though Edgecombe shot 1-6 from deep, he never hesitated to shoot. It wasn’t the most efficient outing, but he made timely decisions and mostly played within the offense.

Adem Bona: A

It took just one outing for Adem Bona to enter the “way too good for Summer League” territory. This past season, Bona showed flashes of shot-blocking and rim-running, which he doubled down on tonight. He notched 16 points on 8-11 shooting from the field, eight rebounds, and two stocks. 

Bona was primarily utilized as a screener in two-man actions where he thrived as an athletic lob threat. However, it was his self-creation that impressed the most. He’s starting to master the art of faking handoffs to catch his defender off balance and soar to the rim. Defensively, Bona blew up many of Utah’s actions with devastating help-side rim protection. He also held his own when switched onto ball-handlers in pick-and-roll situations.

Johni Broome: B

Many – including myself – questioned how Johni Broome’s niche skill-set would translate to the NBA. Tonight, we got a hint. Broome recorded 13 points on 4-11 shooting from the field, five rebounds, and two stocks. He carried himself with the poise of a professional as his five years of collegiate experience truly showed. 

Broome’s presence off the glass was immediately felt as he snagged three offensive boards and did all the dirty work. Defensively, he did a decent job of defending in space, which was a large concern of mine. Interestingly, Philadelphia ran pick-and-rolls involving him and Edgecombe, which yielded solid results. Broome nailed two spot-up threes off the pop as Edgecombe drew both defenders. However, Broome’s lack of athleticism was visible when attacking one-on-one.

As a reminder, this is only the Summer League, so take all of these grades and observations with a grain of salt. The 76ers will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 7th at 7 p.m. EST.