VJ Edgecombe Bounces Back Big as Sixers Roll Past Warriors for Fifth Straight Win
SAN FRANCISCO - After a rough shooting night in Los Angeles, most rookies might come into the next game pressing, second-guessing their shot, or trying to play hero ball. Not VJ Edgecombe. The No. 3 overall pick looked completely unfazed Tuesday night, dropping 25 points on 11-for-20 shooting to help the Philadelphia 76ers cruise past the Golden State Warriors, 113-94, for their fifth consecutive win.
Sitting at his locker postgame, Edgecombe was all smiles - and for good reason. Just 24 hours earlier, he had gone 1-for-11 against the Clippers to open Philly’s five-game road trip.
It was the kind of night that can rattle even seasoned pros. But Edgecombe?
He flushed it. Literally and mentally.
“I just flushed it,” he said. “Last night, I just missed a bunch of open shots.
It happens. Not every night you’re gonna make them all.”
That kind of short memory is rare in a rookie, but it’s part of what’s making Edgecombe stand out early in his NBA journey. The 19-year-old guard didn’t just bounce back - he attacked, controlled the tempo, and made the Warriors pay possession after possession.
Golden State threw different looks at him, but nothing seemed to slow him down. His footwork was sharp, his decision-making crisp, and his confidence?
Off the charts.
And that confidence isn’t coming from nowhere. It’s rooted in the work he puts in behind the scenes - and the belief his teammates have in him.
“My teammates have extra faith in me,” Edgecombe said. “They literally told me tonight, ‘You’re due for a good game.’
That helps a lot. I trust my work.
I know I work hard. It’s all confidence.”
The Sixers are leaning into that confidence, too. They’re not just letting Edgecombe play through mistakes - they’re empowering him to lead, to create, and to take the big shots. That kind of trust from a veteran-laden locker room doesn’t come easy, but Edgecombe is earning it with his relentless approach and mature mindset.
“When your teammates are trusting you, man, I feel like we can just go out there and hoop,” he said. “I don’t even have to worry about anything.
I don’t have to worry if they care if you miss it. At the end of the day, it’s a team game.
They know I’m gonna make the right plays.”
And that’s exactly what he did in San Francisco. Whether it was pulling up in rhythm, attacking closeouts, or making the extra pass, Edgecombe played with poise and purpose - the kind of performance that turns heads around the league.
Sure, the Warriors have been struggling, but this was still a statement game for the rookie. He didn’t just respond to adversity - he embraced it, learned from it, and then used it as fuel.
Now, with the Sixers rolling and their rookie guard playing with the confidence of a seasoned vet, they head back to L.A. for a Thursday night matchup with the Lakers. If Edgecombe keeps playing like this, it won’t be long before he’s not just a promising young talent - he’ll be a problem for the rest of the league.