Is VJ Edgecombe the Philadelphia 76ers’ Second-Best Player?

The Philadelphia 76ers selected VJ Edgecombe, born Valdez Drexel Edgecombe Jr., with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Edgecombe, 19, played college basketball at Baylor for just one season from 2024 to 2025. Edgecombe’s presence has been helpful, but is the Baylor men’s basketball alum the 76ers’ second-best player? Read on to find out.

Philadelphia 76ers Select VJ Edgecombe

The Philadelphia 76ers selected VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Edgecombe will turn 20 on July 30. However, for the time being, Edgecombe’s impressive NBA Summer League performance, including a stellar 28-point debut, has generated high expectations from executives and fans alike. Edgecombe has been generating buzz as a rookie guard for the 76ers. Some analysts have predicted Edgecombe could quickly become one of the 76ers’ best players and potentially rank as the second-best player by the end of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Back at Baylor, Edgecombe was named the 2024-25 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. Edgecombe earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors after producing 15.0 points on 43.6% shooting, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 32.7 minutes in 33 games. Edgecombe’s 68 steals were tied for the fourth-most throughout the conference and set the all-time record by a freshman in program history.

Edgecombe led all Big 12 freshmen in scoring, while ranking third in both rebounds and assists among the conference’s freshmen class. Edgecombe produced six games of at least 20 points, including a career-best 30 points on 8-of-13 shooting (11-12 free throw percentage) against Kansas State on January 22.

Edgecombe Can Help 76ers

VJ Edgecombe’s presence can help the Philadelphia 76ers. Edgecombe is one of the best perimeter defenders of the 2025 NBA Draft Class. Edgecombe’s extensive experience against college basketball players as a Baylor Bear and against international basketball players as a member of the Bahamas men’s national basketball team has proven his versatility. In addition, Edgecombe’s a solid spot-up shooter.

Final Thoughts

VJ Edgecombe’s services can help the Philadelphia 76ers. Edgecombe’s frame and athleticism can be overly relied upon. Edgecombe should prioritize technique. Until then, Joel Embiid remains the 76ers’ No. 1 player, despite Embiid, 31, recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Embiid’s NBA playoff resume highlights statistical dominance but is affected by first and second-round exits and no Eastern Conference Finals appearance.