In the first of two Abu Dhabi matchups versus the New York Knicks, highly regarded rookie V.J. Edgecombe was trusted to partner with the electric Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt from tip-off to commence his career with the Philadelphia 76ers -- a performance that yielded mixed results.
Despite this only being the 20-year-old's preseason debut, it was the perfect opportunity to stake his claim for a major role in the rotation when the NBA season commences on October 22 against the Boston Celtics.
The matchup saw New York record an 84-99 victory over Philadelphia; nevertheless, it will be Edgecombe's performance that is heavily analyzed.
Edgecombe showcases playmaking prowess
It took Edgecombe around six minutes of action to register his first highlight play in a Sixers jersey with a delicious lob pass, which Adem Bona ferociously finished with an earth-shattering dunk. The debutant continued to display a keen eye for playmaking as he drove to the basket with intent before kicking the ball out to fellow rookie Johni Broome, who drilled a three-point attempt.
VJ ➡️ 🆎. pic.twitter.com/5NtgkrLxmH
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 2, 2025
In addition, the former Baylor star's performance also addressed another lingering issue that has plagued the Sixers for several campaigns -- the inability to grab rebounds on both ends of the floor. Edgecombe's athletic physique ensured he could grab rebounds on six separate occasions, allowing Maxey to initiate a devastating transition offense.
One attribute that cannot be measured numerically is a player's fearless mentality, something that the versatile guard has in abundance. When featuring in the rotation, he did not shy away from responsibility, even if this led to a mistake or missed shot.
At times, this mentality hindered his team, but the energetic nature of his performance displayed that Edgecombe will always manufacture a way to aid his colleagues on the court.
The rookie struggled for efficiency
As previously mentioned, Edgecombe accepted any opportunity that the opposition presented him to let his shot fly. On the night, he shot 30.8% from the field, and despite his struggles to put points on the board, he continuously showed a level of inexperience by attempting more shots instead of handing the mantle over to his teammates.
Philadelphia continued to display its defensive frailties throughout the contest with little resistance in the paint or the perimeter. Again, the rookie's inexperience came into play as he did little to help buck this trend. On several occasions, Edgecombe and his teammates were nowhere to be seen on transition as the Knicks eased their way to an open basket.
Overall, V.J. Edgecombe showed signs that he could grow into an integral part of Nick Nurse's rotation as the season develops, especially due to the energy he displayed and the playmaking contributions he made in the early stages of this matchup. However, efficiency issues and inexperience hindered his preseason debut for the Philadelphia 76ers -- areas that can easily be addressed as the young guard gets more competitive games under his belt.
Overall grade: C