The addition of LeBron James to the fold changes a lot of things for the Philadelphia 76ers. Aside from the increased hoopla and the heightened championship expectations, the team's mainstays will have to make some sacrifices to accommodate their star-studded lineup. Now, VJ Edgecombe might be the least decorated player on their newly revamped core, but he is sure not going to let that affect his aggression. That is pretty apparent in the way he held The King accountable just recently.
In his Media Day availability, the incoming sophomore was asked whether he feels some sort of intimidation playing next to a living legend like LeBron. Edgecombe responded in the negative, doubling down instead on keeping someone like James accountable, especially since the megastar is still new to the program. He even cited an instance where he himself told LeBron that he had to switch on D. Well, that is something the 76ers will love to see from their young star.
VJ Edgecombe shows he is not fazed by the 76ers adding LeBron James
That kind of resoluteness and discipline has always been a part of Edgecombe's DNA, but given that he is the relative newbie in the 76ers' nucleus, it was only natural to project him being a less vocal part of the team and being more on the receiving end. Well, that convention does not seem to apply to the young guard.
In keeping LeBron accountable, Edgecombe is showing that the blockbuster addition of LeBron, widely touted as the greatest player of all time, does not faze him in the sense that he will just take a backseat to everything and be satisfied playing the role of a sponge. He seems intent on retaining that catalyst behavior, a trait the 76ers have always loved about him.
The 76ers may have four All-NBA players surrounding the sophomore, but Edgecombe is out to show that he is not your typical fifth option (assuming he can even be called that). With defenses definitely making an emphasis on limiting the production of his more established teammates, him being on the hunt constantly will serve the team really well.
More importantly, the fact that VJ Edgecombe is already having the ilk of a veteran in Year 2 is all the more impressive. James has very strong gravitas, obviously, but with both sides keeping each other accountable, the 76ers have every reason to believe that there will be no clash between their oldest and youngest stars.
Add us as a preferred source on Google