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VJ Edgecombe just proved Cooper Flagg is not the undisputed favorite to win Rookie of the Year
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

It was a tale of two games for VJ Edgecombe and Cooper Flagg, as they kicked off their respective NBA careers.

VJ Edgecombe and Cooper Flagg both made their official NBA debuts tonight, and to say they made their presences known would be an understatement.

Cooper Flagg was the undisputed #1 overall pick for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft, while VJ Edgecombe went #3 to the Philadelphia 76ers, courtesy of poor draft strategy from Ace Bailey.

But the 76ers will be counting their lucky stars that they picked Edgecombe, as he was absolutely brilliant for them in their opening fixture.

While Cooper Flagg did well against the Spurs, his performance was a reminder that he isn’t a lock to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

VJ Edgecombe thrives in debut, while Cooper Flagg faces ‘Welcome to the NBA’ reality

In his rookie debut, VJ Edgecombe was phenomenal, scoring 34 points, with 7 rebounds, and 3 assists while making 5 three-pointers.

His performance will go down in the history books, as it is the third-highest points scored by a rookie in their debut, behind Wilt Chamberlain and Frank Selvy.

On top of that, he set the record for most points by a rookie in the first quarter of their debut since LeBron James in 2003.

Going down south, Cooper Flagg made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks. And while he did turn his performance around in the second half, it was a night of struggles.

Flagg went scoreless in the first half and finished the game with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and a steal. Now, Flagg had his work cut out for him playing against Victor Wembanyama, but there was more to it than that.

The Mavericks are playing him at point guard, as Jason Kidd loves Cooper Flagg’s ball-handling skills. And while he may be very talented, Flagg isn’t a natural point guard at all.

If Flagg ends up playing the point till Kyrie Irving’s return, his chances of winning Rookie of the Year are at risk.

VJ Edgecombe could surprise everyone and win Rookie of the Year

VJ Edgecombe had a brilliant performance in his opening night outing, and reminded everyone that the Rookie of the Year race is not a foregone conclusion.

While Carmelo Anthony doubts Edgecombe can win Rookie of the Year, it’s hard to look at his performance and doubt him.

Of course, it is just Game 1, and there is a lot more basketball to be played. But the opening week of the NBA should serve as a reminder to fans not to count out any other rookie.

Keep an eye on the Rookie of the Year race, as it is sure to be an exciting one, as there are several exciting rookies in the league this season.

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

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