The 76ers may have gotten an early glimpse of something that could matter a lot this season: VJ Edgecombe as more than just a scorer and defender.
That part of his game was on display in Philadelphia’s first preseason game against the Knicks, when the sophomore finished with seven assists in 20 minutes. With Tyrese Maxey out, Nick Nurse used Edgecombe as a nominal point guard in the starting group, and he handled the job well as a creator.
For a team that already has plenty of offensive talent after its big summer additions, that kind of growth from Edgecombe could be a difference-maker. The 76ers do not have an abundance of playmaking on the roster, so any extra source of it changes how defenses have to account for them.
It also opens up more options for Nurse. If Edgecombe can hold up as a point guard in stretches, Philadelphia can use him as the featured piece in second-unit lineups while staggering the starters’ minutes. That kind of flexibility matters, especially when the team is trying to keep the offense flowing across different combinations.
The expectation around Edgecombe has been pretty straightforward: he’s supposed to finish plays, whether that’s spotting up or running the floor. But the more he grows as a passer, the harder he becomes to pin down. If opposing defenses load up on the more established names and force the ball into his hands, the 76ers may still be able to keep things moving.
His scoring and defense are already in place. What now looks like a real added layer is his ability to organize an offense and make quick decisions in the half-court. That gives Philadelphia another wrinkle, and it gives Edgecombe another way to impact the game.
In Other News...
Joel Embiid Got Pulled Into A Strange LeBron Rumor Fast
The 76ers preseason opener briefly turned into an odd side story when broadcaster Mike Breen said he had heard Joel Embiid was a few minutes late to a recent practice and was confronted by LeBron James. It was the kind of stray detail that can take on a life of its own in October, especially when it involves one of the leagues biggest names and a Philadelphia star already under a bright spotlight as the team starts laying groundwork for the season ahead.
LeBron James later shut the report down on social media, saying Embiid had not been late. So the rumor did not linger long, but it still added a strange wrinkle to a night meant to be about the 76ers getting back into game mode. Philadelphia now moves on to the rest of its preseason schedule and, eventually, the start of the 2026-27 regular season with the usual attention on Embiid and everything that follows him. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers May Have A Low-Risk Answer To Their New Frontcourt Problem
The Clippers decision to waive two-way center Jamarion Sharp has put a familiar kind of low-cost big man on the market at exactly the moment the Sixers need one. Philadelphia has an open two-way roster spot, and with Ariel Hukporti injured, frontcourt depth has become a more immediate concern than it was just a few days ago.
Sharp brings a profile the Sixers could find appealing: a 7-foot-5 developmental center with strong defensive numbers in the G League and the sort of rim protection that can at least help stabilize minutes in a pinch. The question now is whether Philadelphia sees enough upside to use that two-way slot on another project, or whether it keeps looking for a more ready-made answer to its frontcourt problem. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Love Is Giving The 76ers A Roster Problem They'd Love
Caleb Love arrived in Philadelphia on a two-way deal, but he has already started making that arrangement feel temporary. After a solid rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he carved out a real rotation role, Love has carried that momentum into camp and looked like a player who belongs in a bigger conversation. In a recent preseason game, he put up 15 points and added contributions across the board, giving the Sixers another guard option with some two-way versatility.
For a team that is always balancing immediate expectations with long-term roster flexibility, that kind of production creates a good problem. Love has shown enough early to make the Sixers think about whether his role should grow if this keeps up, and whether a standard NBA contract might become the natural next step. For now, Philadelphia gets to keep evaluating, but the early returns are making it harder to treat him like just another depth piece. [Read more 🡒]