Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe was Team Vince’s first pick of the draft that decided the NBA Rising Stars rosters. He wound up making Vince Carter look wise.
With a game-winning shot in the first game and the clinching free throws in the second, Edgecombe led Team Vince to the win in the first night of the NBA’s All-Star festivities at Intuit Dome. Naturally, that earned him MVP honors.
Like last year, the Rising Stars Challenge was played as a four-team bracket with three teams composed of young players from around the NBA and a fourth team of top G Leaguers. The first games were played as a first-to-40, while the final was first to 25.
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In total, Edgecombe posted 23 of Team Vince’s 55 points Friday, leading the team in both games. He had 17 in the first game, including the game-winner against a Team T-Mac squad led by Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel, who was taken one spot behind Edgecombe in the 2025 NBA Draft.
It was a stepback jumper over Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer that did it.
Team Vince and Team Melo were neck-and-neck throughout the final, with San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper leading Carmelo Anthony’s team in scoring at eight points plus five rebounds. The game was ultimately decided when Edgecombe drew a foul from Portland Trail Blazers big man Donovan Clingan.
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Carter appeared to try preventing the game from being decided by anti-climactic free throws, approaching Anthony and implying the play wasn’t a foul, but Team Melo was out of timeouts and couldn’t challenge the play.
Some air was taken out of the Rising Stars Challenge with the absences of Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg and Washington Wizards big man Alex Sarr. Flagg was the first overall pick in the draft for Team Melo, but the 19-year-old had to pull out with a foot sprain.
Edgecombe’s heroics continue a strong first season for the Sixers guard, who ranks third among rookies in both points and assists per game.