Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe revealed that Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is the toughest player he’s had to guard so far in his young NBA career. Edgecombe, who has started all 50 games he’s appeared in this season, said Morant dropped 40 points on him despite his best defensive efforts.

Why it matters

Edgecombe’s comments provide insight into the challenges rookie players face when tasked with defending some of the league’s elite scorers. As a 20-year-old, Edgecombe has had to match up against experienced All-Stars like Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he singled out Morant as the toughest cover so far.

The details

In a recent interview on the Club 520 Podcast, Edgecombe discussed a tough stretch of games where he had to guard several top NBA players. He said he was ‘low-key happy’ to face Luka Doncic when Steph Curry sat out, but that guarding the likes of Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker, and Jalen Brunson was his ‘welcome to the NBA’ moment. However, Edgecombe admitted that Ja Morant was the toughest player he’s had to defend, as the Grizzlies star dropped 40 points on him.

Edgecombe has started all 50 games he’s appeared in so far this season (2025-26).
The players

VJ Edgecombe

A 20-year-old rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, who was drafted out of Baylor University.

Ja Morant

The star point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, known for his elite athleticism and scoring ability.

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What they’re saying

“Toughest? I ain’t going to lie to you, Ja Morant bro. I ain’t going to lie, he had 40.”

— VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers Rookie (Club 520 Podcast)

The takeaway

Edgecombe’s comments highlight the steep learning curve for young players entering the NBA, as they are tasked with defending some of the league’s most talented scorers. Despite his defensive abilities, the 20-year-old rookie found Ja Morant to be the toughest challenge so far, underscoring Morant’s status as one of the NBA’s elite players.