The Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Utah Jazz in their first Summer League game, although fans have a lot to be excited about in rookie VJ Edgecombe, who led all scorers.
In their first Summer League showdown, the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Utah Jazz, falling 93-89. That result was to be expected, as Utah played seven experienced NBA players for over ten minutes compared to the Sixers, who gave only five veterans double digits.
However, despite what players might say, winning and losing don’t matter too much in the Summer League. It’s all about rookies showcasing that they can hang in the NBA and fringe guys fighting for a two-way spot.
Third overall pick VJ Edgecombe led all scorers with a 28-point double-double, tossing in three stocks for good measure.
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe already prefers the NBA over college
At Baylor University, Edgecombe was a standout player, averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds while being one of the most explosive, athletic, and exciting players in the country.
After earning All-Big 12 honors, Edgecombe is expected to be a franchise player for the 76ers, outplaying fifth overall pick Ace Bailey, who was initially expected to be the third overall pick in the draft. Bailey offered only eight points to Edgecombe’s 28.
Edgecombe shot only one-for-seven from 3-point range, and in college splashed only 34% of his shots from deep. However, he can get to the rim with ease and is already taking advantage of the extra spacing the NBA has to offer, which allows him to get to the paint whenever he wants.
“It’s a lot better than college,” he said after the game. “You can’t sit in the paint, so it’s a lot better than college. College is jam-packed, but NBA, you know, it’s way more spacing. Got to respect shooters and everything.”
In Philadelphia, Edgecombe will share the floor with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Paul George, Kelly Oubre, and Joel Embiid, all solid shooters in their own right. Playing next to them should get the most out of the rookie, who could be one of the best slashers in the league from day one.
VJ Edgecombe is poised to make a splash
According to BetMGM, Edgecombe has the third-best odds to win Rookie of the Year (+1000) behind Cooper Flagg and Tre Johnson.
Flagg is the best rookie in the class, everyone is sure of that, and Johnson won’t have to defer to veterans on a young and rebuilding Washington Wizards team.
Edgecombe will play a smaller role than most third overall picks, although his athletic ability and do-all skillset on both ends of the floor will certainly make him one of the better players on the Sixers’ roster, but with three All-Stars still in their prime, expect him to play a secondary role.
Still, his Summer League debut is impossible to ignore, and he seems to already know how to play to his strengths in the NBA. He made seven shots in the paint, and took only nine mid-range shots, making six of them.