V.J. Edgecombe isn’t tiptoeing around LeBron James.
That’s the clearest takeaway from the Philadelphia 76ers’ first day of training camp, where the 21-year-old guard made it plain that he sees the 41-year-old superstar as a teammate first, not a name to orbit from a safe distance. Edgecombe said the two are already comfortable enough for direct talk in practice, including moments when he’ll call out a missed switch.
“No, I’m myself. I’m myself.
I told him I was like, I mean, like, if we have a possession, so I’d be like, ‘Yo, Bron, we’ve got to switch that. We got to do it, you know what I’m saying?’
Like, whoever, we are holding each other accountable. I said, ‘We’re teammates now, man.'”
He also downplayed any notion that sharing the floor with James has created pressure.
“It’s no pressure, you know; playing alongside him is fun. If it’s anything, it’s more fun than pressure.
Obviously, all the eyes are on us. So, it’s just more fun than I would say pressure.”
That mindset matters for a 76ers team that has become one of the league’s most talked-about groups this offseason. Philadelphia already had a strong core built around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Edgecombe, then added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James to push the roster even further. With that kind of firepower, the expectation is simple: the 76ers are supposed to win the title next season.
Edgecombe’s role, though, has been a major point of discussion. His arrival as one of the franchise’s most promising young pieces had already put him in the spotlight, and James’ addition led some to wonder whether the rookie’s development would get squeezed. After camp opened, Edgecombe made it clear he doesn’t see it that way.
He even said he was the one giving James feedback during practice.
“Yeah, I did. I told him he got to switch.
You know, we forgot we messed up with the switch. But that’s what happens.
Like I said, we’re getting to know each other. It’s a new system for him.
Oh man, like I say, it’s just everything’s on the fly right now. So, but overall, like I said, it was great.”
The defensive side of that exchange stands out most. James, now 41, is no longer the same kind of active defender he once was, and Edgecombe’s willingness to speak up rather than defer says plenty about how he’s approaching this situation. In a locker room loaded with established stars, he’s choosing accountability over reverence.
That attitude could work both ways. James will demand a high standard from his teammates, and Edgecombe will be expected to raise his own level in response.
The dynamic isn’t simple, and there are clearly some moving parts that still need to be sorted out. But from the way Edgecombe is handling practice, the early signs are encouraging.
That matters because he’s already proven he belongs. Last season, Edgecombe emerged as one of the most promising rookies in his draft class and finished third in ROTY voting. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, production that made him one of the most important players on the 76ers’ roster.
His exact spot in the rotation may change from night to night, especially on a roster this crowded with talent. But Philadelphia still plans to lean on him, and with the kind of expectations hanging over this team, Edgecombe’s voice and confidence may end up being part of the formula.
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