Philadelphia 76ers fans thought VJ Edgecombe treated them to a preview of the future after totaling 26 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. However, few realized the sneak peek he offered was a glimpse into the season ahead – not just the long-term.
Nick Nurse said on Friday that he is planning on starting Edgecombe heading into the regular season. Edgecombe showcased compelling flashes of his two-way ability in the preseason that provided the 76ers with a needed boost of athleticism and youth. Philadelphia’s newly acquired uptempo playstyle needs players of Edgecombe’s caliber for it to be effective.
Edgecombe impressed
Edgecombe delivered quite the impression in three preseason games played, where he posted 16.7 points per game on 42.5% shooting from the field. While his efficiency needs improvement, he also chipped in 4.7 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, and two steals per game.
When the 76ers selected Edgecombe third overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, they envisioned him as someone who could supply athleticism and defensive playmaking. Though his repertoire is unpolished – he displayed just that. Edgecombe constantly ascended to the rim in an attempt to posterize his defender, especially off the fastbreak. His knack for forcing turnovers and sealing off driving lanes defending one-on-one gave Philadelphia many transition opportunities as well.
During his pre-draft process, many labeled self-creation as one of Edgecombe’s weaknesses, but he showed convincing glimpses of improvement. His quickness and burst helped him evade defenders en route to the rim, but it was to his detriment at times. The guard must improve at dictating his pace rather than letting defenses speed him up, which leads to inefficient shots. Regardless, he showed flashes of quality on-ball scoring and matters are trending upward.
However, Edgecombe was just as impressive without the ball. Nurse maximized Edgecombe in the half-court by designing actions that enabled him to back-cut, which yielded him many easy chances at the rim. He also delivered quality connective passes that maintained Philadelphia’s offensive flow.
Moving forward
The 76ers intend their offense to be more uptempo and movement-heavy. For this to come to fruition, Philadelphia needs players who can create defensive havoc and excel in the open floor, aspects of Edgecombe’s game that are already prevalent.
Still, he must progress his outside shooting to maximize his potential, not only for this season, but for the long-term future as well. Edgecombe shot 25% from downtown on 5.3 attempts per game in the preseason. He’ll need to be more efficient, but the fact that he shot at such a high volume showcases his confidence.
Edgecombe played alongside Joel Embiid and Quentin Grimes once in these exhibitions while Paul George didn’t participate. While Philadelphia lacks a true floor general, it has a plethora of advantage creators who will generate Edgecombe quality spot-up opportunities. He seemingly clinched a starting spot to start the season, but for him to stay there, he must continue to give the 76ers a two-way boost while ironing out his weaknesses.