VJ Edgecombe is still wrapping his head around the idea of sharing a locker room with LeBron James.
The 20-year-old Philadelphia 76ers lottery pick made it clear just how surreal that sounds to him going into the offseason, especially because James is now 41 and entering his 24th year in the NBA. Edgecombe’s reaction was blunt and honest.
“Nah,” he said. “[LeBron James is] exactly old enough to be my dad, which is crazy.
I ain't gonna lie. His son is older than me, which is crazy.”
That age gap is the part that really jumps off the page. James is more than twice Edgecombe’s age, and he also has a son who is older than the 76ers rookie. For Edgecombe, that kind of reality would have been hard to picture not long ago, even if James was the player he grew up idolizing.
The strange part is that this isn’t just about the symbolism of sharing a team with one of the greatest players ever. James still looks capable of being a major force.
Last season with the Lakers, he seemed comfortable settling into a third-option role at times, but there were also stretches when he was clearly the offense’s first choice. In the postseason, he even led Los Angeles while Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic were both out.
For Philadelphia, the numbers and the roster changes point toward a very different kind of situation for Edgecombe. With James, Jaylen Brown and even Dean Wade arriving, the 20-year-old appears likely to see his role shrink next season on paper. And with James at 41, it would not be surprising if he misses a chunk of the regular season and saves himself for the playoffs.
Edgecombe, though, does not sound rattled by any of it. If anything, he seems ready to handle the adjustment and embrace the opportunity ahead, with a title run waiting for him in his first NBA season.
Malika Andrews: "Did you ever think you'd be his teammate?"
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 19, 2026
V.J. Edgecombe: "Nah... [LeBron James is] exactly old enough to be my dad, which is crazy. I ain't gonna lie. His son is older than me, which is crazy.”
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/7dUcXlLF7c
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