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Sixers' VJ Edgecombe issues some guarantees as he enters the offseason
TL;DR
Rookie VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers had a standout season, averaging 16.0 points and becoming a Rookie of the Year finalist. Despite a strong start, he faced challenges in the playoffs and aims to improve for the next season.
Key points
- VJ Edgecombe was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
- He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during the season.
- Edgecombe was a Rookie of the Year finalist.
- He scored 34 points in his NBA debut against the Boston Celtics.
- Edgecombe aims to improve after an uneven playoff performance.
Philadelphia 76ersBoston CelticsNew York KnicksVJ Edgecombe
PHILADELPHIA -- If there was one burning bright spot for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025-26 season, it was the play of rookie VJ Edgecombe. The No. 3 overall pick shone all season averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 43.8% from the floor and 35.4% from deep.
He finished as a Rookie of the Year finalist and cracked 30 points three times, including scoring 34 in his NBA debut against the Boston Celtics back on Oct. 22. He also had 30 points and 10 rebounds in a Game 2 win over the Celtics in Round 1--the first rookie to have 30 and 10 in a playoff game since the great Tim Duncan in 1998.
Safe to say, Edgecombe is happy with what he accomplished, but the playoffs overall were uneven for him.
"I'm gonna be gonna be honest, I’ll say it's been a lot of ups and downs throughout this whole playoffs," Edgecombe said after the elimination by the New York Knicks. "Even for me personally, with playing against the Celtics, to now against New York. It was, it was tricky. I was guarded differently. I was guarded differently, but I’ll say I'm gonna take some time. Look back at it after a couple weeks or so, I said and just get better. Just get better."
He shot only 29.2% from deep and 41.4% from the floor overall in the playoffs and that bothered him a bit. It appears that the shooting struggles are going to drive him into the gym all summer long.
"I refuse," he continued. "Coming into next year, a team will never leave me open. Even during the regular season, I was shooting the ball pretty well. Then playoffs come and it's a different vibe. Intensity’s higher. The close-outs are a lot quicker, but I'm gonna work, I'm gonna work. I'm gonna work. That’s all I’m gonna do, that's all."
For now and the future, the Sixers will be Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe's team. In order for the Sixers to jump back into contention, they will need Edgecombe to get better and help push the team forward. The rookie understands that now.
Q&A
What were VJ Edgecombe's average stats during the 2025-26 season?
VJ Edgecombe averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals during the 2025-26 season.
How did VJ Edgecombe perform in his NBA debut?
VJ Edgecombe scored 34 points in his NBA debut against the Boston Celtics on October 22, 2025.
What challenges did VJ Edgecombe face in the playoffs?
Edgecombe experienced ups and downs in the playoffs, noting that he was guarded differently in the series against the New York Knicks compared to his earlier matchup with the Celtics.