V.J. Edgecombe Believes in the Sixers - and He Might Be Right to
There’s no shortage of confidence in the Philadelphia 76ers’ locker room - and rookie V.J. Edgecombe isn’t shy about it. As the team heads into the All-Star break, Edgecombe made it clear: if the Sixers can stay healthy, he sees them as the team to beat in the East.
"If we're totally healthy I think we're gonna be the team to beat coming out of the East, if you ask me," Edgecombe said in a recent appearance on NBA TV. "Just the faith I have in my guys and my coaches and everyone. So I think we got a chance to make a far push, for sure."
That’s a bold statement from a first-year player, but it’s not without merit. The Sixers are currently sitting sixth in the East with a 30-24 record - a respectable mark, but one that doesn’t fully reflect the rollercoaster this team has been on. Injuries and availability have been the biggest obstacles, and they’ve hit Philly’s top stars the hardest.
Joel Embiid has suited up for just 31 games this season, and Paul George has played in only 27. George, of course, is now serving a 25-game suspension that won’t wrap up until late March - a significant blow to a team that’s already been juggling lineups all year long.
And with the trade deadline now in the rearview mirror, the Sixers didn’t make any moves to bolster the roster. That means it’s all on this current group to hold the line, stay competitive, and hope they’re healthy enough to make noise when the playoffs roll around.
But amid the inconsistency, V.J. Edgecombe has been a bright spot - and not just in flashes.
The rookie has started all 50 games he’s played in, averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Those are impressive numbers for any rookie, but what really stands out is how he’s getting them.
Edgecombe plays with a maturity you don’t often see in first-year players. He’s calm under pressure, capable of creating his own shot, and has already shown he’s not afraid of the moment - hitting big-time buckets late in games with the kind of composure that usually takes years to develop.
Defensively, he’s no slouch either. With his length, instincts, and effort on that end of the floor, Edgecombe has the tools to grow into a true two-way star - the kind of player who can change the trajectory of a franchise. And in Philadelphia, where health and depth are constant question marks, his emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.
The road ahead won’t be easy. The Eastern Conference is loaded with contenders, and the Sixers still have to prove they can string together consistent performances - especially without George for the next several weeks. But if Embiid can return to form, and if Edgecombe continues on his current trajectory, this team has the pieces to make a run.
Edgecombe believes it. And based on what we’ve seen so far, he might just be onto something.