VJ Edgecombe Is Hitting the Rookie Wall - and That’s Okay
PHILADELPHIA - If there’s one player on the Sixers who’s earned a breather right now, it’s VJ Edgecombe. The rookie has been a bright spot in Philadelphia’s season, putting up 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting a respectable 42.3% from the field and 35.2% from three. But make no mistake - the All-Star break couldn’t come at a better time for him.
Edgecombe has already logged 50 games this season, averaging 35.4 minutes a night. That’s 1,768 total minutes - a massive leap from the 1,080 minutes he played across 33 games in his lone season at Baylor. It’s a classic case of a rookie hitting the wall, and it’s not a knock on him - it’s part of the NBA learning curve.
“Probably huge, man,” Tyrese Maxey said of the upcoming break. “He’s never played these type of minutes in his life.
Like, even playing a 40-minute basketball game in college is way different than this. We’ve played 54 games.
I think he’s played at least 50 of them.”
Maxey would know. He’s been through it himself.
The NBA schedule doesn’t let up - three, sometimes four or five games in a week - and that’s a different beast compared to the more forgiving college slate. For a rookie like Edgecombe, who’s being asked to contribute significantly right away, the grind adds up fast.
“That’s a whole season and we’re asking him to do a lot,” Maxey added. “So, he’s probably definitely tired.
But it’s OK. Like I said, this is what the break is for and I’m not too worried about this one.
It happens and we’re gonna move from it.”
Maxey’s own experience paints a clear picture of what Edgecombe is going through. For him, the real wear and tear didn’t hit until his second season, when his minutes jumped and the demands on his body skyrocketed.
“The first time it really kinda got to me was my second year,” Maxey recalled. “In my first year, I wasn’t playing a lot of minutes - maybe 12 a game.
But my second year, I was playing a lot. I remember a back-to-back when I played 45 minutes and 43 minutes.
Two regulation games, back-to-back. That’s when I realized, man, some days I gotta take off from shooting.
Some days, I gotta do more recovery. I gotta do more treatment.”
That’s the part of the NBA grind that doesn’t show up in the box score. The off days.
The treatment sessions. The discipline it takes to not hit the gym when your body’s begging for rest - especially for guys like Maxey and Edgecombe, who live for the game and want to be in the gym every chance they get.
“I used to be like, ‘I don’t need treatment,’” Maxey admitted. “I thought I was Superman.
But you gotta be on top of it - your body’s your temple. You only get one of these, and you gotta protect it.”
That’s the kind of wisdom Maxey’s now passing down to Edgecombe. It’s not just about working hard - it’s about working smart.
The message? Sometimes, less is more.
“You’re gonna get your shots in, you’re gonna get your reps in,” Maxey said. “But when you’re a worker, it’s hard.
It’s hard not to go to the gym when you wanna go to the gym. But sometimes it’s better.”
The Sixers head into the All-Star break at 30-24, with their next game coming against the Atlanta Hawks on February 19. For Edgecombe, the week off isn’t just a break - it’s a reset.
A chance to breathe, recharge, and come back ready for the stretch run. Because if his first 50 games are any indication, the kid’s got a lot more to give.