VJ Edgecombe may be the easiest player to overlook in Philadelphia’s projected starting five, but that’s exactly why his rise could become such a useful complication for the 76ers.
On paper, the roster is stacked with proven names, and Edgecombe enters Year 2 as the least decorated player in that group. He was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award last season, but he still doesn’t carry the kind of résumé that forces the offense to bend around him right away. That said, his trajectory points in a different direction, and the issue for the 76ers may not be whether he fits - it may be how much of the offense he starts demanding.
Edgecombe’s game already gave Philadelphia a wildcard last season, and that role should carry over. But there’s a strong case for him getting more than just a supporting turn in the scoring mix. He’s also in the middle of the most active summer on the team, which only strengthens the argument.
Right now, Edgecombe is leading Team Bahamas in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and he’s been outstanding in that role. Through the tournament, he is averaging 22.5 points, seven rebounds, and 4.5 assists. That kind of run can matter when a young player returns to the NBA, and it could help push him toward a bigger workload next season.
That pattern isn’t unusual. Players who spend time with their national teams in international competition often carry that momentum into the following NBA season, and Edgecombe looks like someone who could follow that path. If he does, the 76ers will be forced into some real choices about lineups and, even more importantly, where the ball goes.
It would be a little unusual if Edgecombe ends up getting the kind of touch volume associated with Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown, but Philadelphia seems willing to live with that kind of tension. The team is trying to win now while still keeping an eye on what comes next, and that means there may be stretches where the young guard takes more shots than the casual fan expects. Still, that sort of usage could be exactly what helps the 76ers manage the load on their older stars while giving their younger talent room to grow.
That’s the kind of problem every team wants. For the 76ers, Edgecombe’s emergence would be a welcome one, because he isn’t showing any signs of fading into the background.
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