Philadelphia 76ers Rookie VJ Edgecombe Shines In Preseason Finale
The Philadelphia 76ers had a rough 2024 season, but managed to secure a top three pick in the NBA Draft. Philadelphia selected Baylor Guard VJ Edgecombe with the 3rd overall pick, hoping to secure their next franchise superstar. Edgecombe gave the fanbase something to be excited about during the Summer League and ended the preseason on a positive note.
The Rookie Dominated
Edgecombe struggled in the first two games of the preseason against the New York Knicks, but bounced back tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tonight, Edgecombe scored 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals. He was dominant on both sides of the ball and continues to get an enormous amount of praise from Head Coach Nick Nurse: “He’s way ahead of where we thought he might be being able to do that [running the offense]…He’s got a good feel for the game.” –
With the 76ers’ season opener just days away against the Boston Celtics, it sounds like Edgecombe has earned himself the starting role in the backcourt alongside Tyrese Maxey. Nurse spoke to the media today and said that the third overall pick is “heading in the direction” of starting the season opener on Wednesday in the Garden. Having him in the starting five allows Nurse to play at a faster tempo, which is something they lacked throughout last season.
Heading into the season, one of the biggest questions being asked throughout the media was how the 76ers would run their guard rotation. With so many on the roster, it seemed unlikely that Edgecombe was going to get significant playing time. With Jared McCain set to miss the start of the season with a thumb injury, Edgecombe stepped up to the plate and earned the starting role.
Are the 76ers Back?
For the first time in years, things are trending upwards for the Philadelphia 76ers. After an eight-month absence, Joel Embiid played in his first preseason game since October 20th, 2023. It looks like the big man is ready to take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday and will hopefully stay healthy throughout. He only played 19 minutes tonight, but looked effective in his time on the floor. Embiid put up nineteen points, pairing with seven rebounds and eight assists.
The only significant injury as of now, other than Jared McCain, is Paul George. George underwent knee surgery earlier in the offseason and is expected to miss next week’s season opener. The good news is that George has been participating in all of the drills during training camp and is only expected to miss a short amount of time.
Overall, the 76ers will be an exciting team to watch this season. The combination of long-time veteran players paired with young and athletic talent will be fun to watch. The obvious key for them is going to be staying healthy and building continuity between Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. If they can stay healthy, Nick Nurse will have the best team in his tenure in Philadelphia and will look to make a run at the title.
