The Philadelphia 76ers will get their first looks at rookies VJ Edgecombe and Johni Broome when they begin the summer league schedule on July 5 in Salt Lake City. They will play three games in Utah before heading to Las Vegas on July 10 for that portion of the summer league.
To begin preparation for the summer circuit, the Sixers got to work in the gym on Tuesday for mini camp in an effort to get everybody on the same page. The summer version of the Sixers will be coached by assistant TJ DiLeo who was able to get in the gym with Edgecombe and Broome for the first time.
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Broome, who fell to Philadelphia in the second round of the draft, had a helluva career at Auburn and will look to bring that success to the NBA level. He described himself as a good guy to have around and the Sixers will be looking to help him take those next steps in the league.
“Broome, he’s got physicality,” DiLeo told reporters. “He plays hard. He’s got like a nose for the ball, really, on both ends of the court, offensive rebounding, on offense, and his instincts are good, and what’s good about him is, like, he’s a guy that can play hard and play smart and play with instincts a little bit, so he’s got a good combination of both of that’s—he’s had a great career, and he’s been successful at every step that he’s been at. I’m happy to have him in summer league and try to get a little better here and integrate the organization.”
Then there’s Edgecombe who will have a lot of eyes on him after the Sixers selected him with the No. 3 overall pick. It sounds like he will have the ball in his hands a bit more in an effort to unlock more of his game and make him another ball-handling option for this group. DiLeo has been impressed with how much he wants to improve.
“So, like, his athleticism really stands out,” DiLeo said of Edgecombe. “Like, you see it on the defensive end, offensive end in transition, he plays super hard and he’s coachable, and he’s really trying to get the stuff we’re trying to put in early for summer league, and he’s really trying to learn that stuff, and that’s that’s awesome. He’s asking questions. He’s really—he wants to do things the right way and be a part of something good.”
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Edgecombe, Broome, and the Sixers will be get to work on Saturday when they take on the Utah Jazz to begin the summer league.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers summer coach gives impressions of Johni Broome, VJ Edgecombe