The Philadelphia 76ers scoffed at distractions by zeroing in on VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall selection at the 2025 NBA Draft. They disregarded the Ace Bailey hype, refused to blink when Kon Knueppel shot up big boards, and even held to their vision when Tre Johnson emerged as a top prospect.
It's far too soon to say that the 76ers made the right decision, but Summer League has given Edgecombe the platform to reveal exactly why Daryl Morey made this selection.
Edgecombe, 19, has only appeared in two of Philadelphia's Summer League games. It's seemingly been by design, as the franchise is hoping to avoid any potential injury complications. In his two games played, however, the former Baylor Bears star showed out.
He kicked things off with a bang at the Utah Summer League, posting 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Edgecombe picked up where he left off when he debuted in Las Vegas, tallying 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. He shot just 4-of-14 from the field, but that became more of a reason for optimism than uncertainty after he scored all 15 of his points during the second half.
Per Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice, Edgecombe explained that the game slowed down for him during the second half—the type of quote that should have 76ers fans intrigued.
“In the first half, I was trying to get my feet under me, but that ain't no excuse. I just go out there and just play hard," Edgecombe said. "Second half it slowed down, was able to make easier reads and more in the flow. It was good. We won, so that’s all that matters.”
By overcoming a slow start to dominate the next two quarters, Edgecombe revealed a star quality: The ability to leave disappointing results behind and continue to play with constant intensity.
Game is already slowing down for VJ Edgecombe, who refuses to let misses deter him
Edgecombe earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2024-25 for similar reasons to what made him a top-3 pick. He was a defensive menace, utilizing his explosive athleticism and overwhelming physicality to stifle opponents and create turnovers at virtual will.
Edgecombe was also an impressive scorer who lacked ideal efficiency, but refused to allow any stretches of inconsistency to deter him from seeing the bigger picture.
That's on display at Summer League, where Edgecombe is already turning heads. His intensity has been infectious and his ability to disregard his field goal percentage in favor of the knowledge that his team needs him to make a play is a star-caliber characteristic—even if the analytics may suggest otherwise.
During the interview with Aaronson, Edgecombe explained that missing shots doesn't bother him or deter him from continuing to play hard and making the right plays.
“It's part of the game. You’re going to miss shots. I don't think there has been anyone on earth that played basketball and has made every shot," Edgecombe said. "So at the end of the day, I’ve just got to keep playing basketball. Take what they give me. Lane is there, attack the lane, make some plays, create for others. Do something. But I'm going to be myself the whole time.”
That's a remarkable display of poise from a 19-year-old incoming rookie who's quickly justifying the hype and displaying star attributes both on the court and in the way he processes the game.
VJ Edgecombe understands that efficiency can be the enemy of greatness
Every player should aspire to take the best possible shots and convert them with a level of efficiency that reflects their skill level. The unfortunate reality of actually playing the games, however, is that not everything tends to go according to plan.
Sometimes, the shot clock is winding down and a bad shot is the best option—and other times, a poor shooting performance is simply how a player's night is shaking out.
When the chips are down and a star's teammates need someone to step up, however, the burden of responsibility falls squarely on their shoulders. It's why the greatest scorers in NBA history are so often forgiven by their peers for whatever their slash line ends up being.
It's the greats who are willing to look beyond how they're shooting and focus exclusively on the shots that remain in their future.
There are limits to that, of course, but Edgecombe's early understanding of how important it is to brush off the occasional inefficiency is compelling. His shot selection is by no means poor, and his skill set is rather advanced for a player his age.
Refinement will be crucial and roles will need to be defined within Philadelphia's rotation of conflicting timelines, but Edgecombe is already looking the part of the future star the 76ers hope he'll be.