Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Watch - VJ Edgecombe

The 2025-26 Philadelphia 76ers are one of the league’s biggest question marks, a team that could compete for a title or find themselves back in the lottery. While that basically sounds like any team in the league, especially in the Eastern Conference, nobody really knows what to expect from the Sixers this season. Is the team still going through “the process,” or are they retooling around their young talent?

Selecting Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick this past June adds another young pillar to the team’s future. Averaging 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 33 games with the Bears, Edgecombe brings the Sixers a versatile, athletic player capable of playing both the off guard and small forward positions.

With an aging roster and question marks surrounding key players' health and long-term commitment, Edgecombe enters a unique situation for a rookie. The 20-year-old Bahamian could find himself playing a significant role alongside guards Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, giving the Sixers a dynamic, explosive trio to build around. In a league filled with versatile wings, the 6-foot-5 combo guard/forward gives the Sixers exactly the type of modern player they need.

In his two Las Vegas Summer League games, Edgecombe showed off his well-rounded game, posting 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in his first game and 15, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists to close out his short introduction to the NBA. Able to play multiple positions, Edgecombe can create offense both on and off the ball. Defensively, the rookie has the speed and size capable of allowing him to guard both quicker and stronger players.

It’s hard to predict Edgecombe’s rookie stats as the Sixers' lineup has fluctuated greatly over the past few seasons with injuries and load management. If (and that’s a big IF), the team is at optimal health, Edgecombe should realistically average 8-10 points, 3-4 rebounds, and a couple of assists. However, given Joel Embiid's (back and knee) and Paul George’s (knee) health history, those numbers could very easily jump to make Edgecombe a competitor for the Rookie of the Year award.