VJ Edgecombe Ties Magic Johnson’s 46-Year-Old Record, Catches Jaylen Brown’s Attention in 76ers' Game 2 Win

Credits: Imagn ©Credits: Imagn

For 46 years, Magic Johnson stood as the gold standard of a rookie player. Though he didn’t claim the definitive Rookie of the Year title to prove it, he had led the Showtime Lakers to the NBA finals, won the title, and finals MVP all at 20, cemented by his clutch performances for the teams. That standard has been hard to replicate for almost five decades. But on Tuesday night at the TD Garden, VJ Edgecombe didn’t just chase that history, he rewrote it. The way he got there, through visible pain, even Jaylen Brown took notice. And he sounded a tad worried about the Celtics.

In a stunning 111–97 victory over the Boston Celtics that tied the series, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie exploded for 30 points and 10 rebounds with extra two assists and two steals. No rookie guard has made such a massive double-double playoff statline since Earvin “Magic” Johnson arrived in the league.

At 20 years, 8 months, and 23 days old, Edgecombe officially surpassed Johnson, who was 20 years, 9 months, and 2 days old in 1980, as the youngest player in NBA history to record a 30-10 playoff game.

The performance was even more remarkable considering Edgecombe twice retreated to the locker room. He took a hard fall on his tailbone in the first quarter and limped off the floor. He returned but had to leave in the third after aggravating that injury. Each time, he returned to the floor, eventually finishing 12-of-20 from the field and knocking down six critical three-pointers to level the series at 1-1.

It’s personally a full circle moment for the 76ers organization. If the NBA historians would recall, the 1980 finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers. Rookie Magic Johnson made this record against the Sixers to claim the series 4-2.