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Philadelphia 76ers most exciting player next season will prove he is the next face of their franchise

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 6:32 PM ET

The Philadelphia 76ers will have one of their bright young prospects establish themselves as the future of the team.

After Paul George and Joel Embiid’s injury issues derailed their campaign, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to bounce back.

However, things have not gotten any better. Embiid and George’s injury issues have persisted heading into the offseason.

Embiid, in particular, has a tough road to recovery ahead of him, given his tricky injury history. There isn’t a lot of optimism heading into the new season.

But 76ers fans are lucky, as their team has put together a strong young core of players. And one of these players will elevate themselves to the position of the future ace of their team.

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VJ Edgecombe is the future of the Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers picked VJ Edgecombe with the #3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. And while he may not have been their first choice, he quickly proved he was the right one.

Edgecombe had a thrilling debut in the Summer League, putting up strong numbers. It was a sign that he was going to be a special star for them.

Even Nick Nurse was impressed with Edgecombe’s defensive commitment during the NBA Summer League.

The Bahamian star will get the chance to play big minutes next season, as he will presumably start next to Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt.

Expect Edgecombe to wow 76ers fans with his excellent play on both ends of the court and slot in quite nicely into the squad.

Philadelphia 76ers will have to decide on their direction going forward

Heading into the offseason, many felt that the Philadelphia 76ers would reconsider their roster and proceed to blow it up.

However, the 76ers kept the pairing of Paul George and Joel Embiid, wanting to see what they could accomplish together when healthy.

The 76ers have confidence in the pairing. But what if George and Embiid fail to make an impression? Where do they go next?

That is when the 76ers need to make the tough decision to move on from Embiid. Luckily for them, they have an exciting young core at the ready to build around for years to come.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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