Getty
LeBron James walked into Philadelphia on Sunday searching for a response after his streak of 17 years with double-digit scoring came to a close. He delivered one of the strongest fourth quarters of his season and followed it with a gesture that resonated just as much. James scored 10 straight points in the final minutes of the Lakers’ 112 to 108 win over the 76ers, then handed his jersey to rookie VJ Edgecombe. The moment created an emotional scene that Edgecombe addressed after the game, per Athlon Sports.
“Pretty humbling, I’m still a kid to be honest,” Edgecombe said. “He was my favorite player growing up. The only reason I started playing basketball. To get his jersey means a lot to me, but I wanted to win. It would have felt better if we had won, AND I got his jersey.”
The rookie did not hide how much the exchange meant to him, and the honesty of his reaction captured the influence James still holds across the league.
James Turns Back the Clock in Philadelphia
James entered the night after one of the roughest games of his historic career, but he took control of the fourth quarter and decided the outcome. He scored 10 consecutive points, including a fadeaway that sealed the game with 27.4 seconds on the clock. He finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block.
The performance also pushed James into another tier of NBA history. He reached his 1,015th regular season win, which moved him past Celtics legend Robert Parish for the second most wins in league history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sits at the top with 1,074 victories.
The Lakers had not won in Philadelphia since 2017, so the game carried extra weight for the group. James explained his mindset afterward. “I felt like the opportunity kind of presented itself,” he said. “My two heavy hitters didn’t have it or needed a kick, and I tried to punch in from there.”
Edgecombe and the 76ers faced a Lakers lineup that finally played at full strength. The rookie chipped in throughout the night as he continued to solidify his first season in the league. Across his first 20 games, he averaged 14.4 points and 1.3 steals, giving Philadelphia a lift on both ends.
Player Who Defined His Basketball Journey
James now plays in his twenty third season. His presence stretches so far across the league that he shares the floor with players who were not alive when he debuted in 2003. Edgecombe belongs to that group. At 20 years old, he looked across the court at the player who inspired him to pick up a ball. That context shaped the significance of the jersey exchange.
Edgecombe appreciated the gesture but stayed competitive in his assessment of the night. He wanted the win, and he made that clear, yet he still took pride in the experience of facing James for the first time.
James has motivated countless young players, yet hearing that influence spoken so directly after a loss reveals the depth of his reach. Moments like Sunday remind the league that his career stretches across generations. They also explain why so many young players view games against him as career landmarks.
James’ longevity creates a rare dynamic throughout the NBA. At the start of the 2025 to 26 season, more than eighty active players entered the world after James entered the league. That reality frames the significance of his interaction with Edgecombe and the path he continues to carve.
Edgecombe summed it up with honesty. He wanted the win, but receiving the jersey from the player who sparked his basketball journey still meant everything.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. Instagram: @showmi_more More about Burtland Dixon
More Heavy on Lakers
Loading more stories