VJ Edgecombe Is Quietly Making a Loud Rookie of the Year Case in Philly
It’s been a while since a Philadelphia 76ers rookie made serious noise in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race. Ben Simmons was the last to bring that hardware home back in 2018.
Now, with the 2025-26 season heating up, the spotlight has mostly landed on a trio of standout rookies: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Derik Queen. But if you’ve been watching closely, there’s another name quietly building a case - and he’s doing it on a team with real playoff aspirations.
That name is VJ Edgecombe.
Let’s start with the obvious: Flagg, Knueppel, and Queen are putting up the kind of numbers that grab headlines. Flagg, the top overall pick, just dropped his first 40-point game for a struggling Mavericks squad.
Knueppel is emerging as a foundational piece in Charlotte, potentially shifting the franchise’s identity away from LaMelo Ball. And Queen, despite the Pelicans’ league-worst record, is showing flashes of why New Orleans paid a premium to get him at No.
But while those three are turning heads on teams looking toward the lottery, Edgecombe is holding his own - and then some - on a Sixers team that’s trying to win right now.
A Rookie Playing Like Anything But
At just 20 years old, Edgecombe has already started all 22 games he’s played in this season. That’s no small feat, especially on a roster featuring three recent All-Stars in Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George.
Most rookies would be finding their footing. Edgecombe?
He’s already in stride.
“He seems to have a feel for what’s needed and what’s going to happen,” said head coach Nick Nurse after a recent practice. It’s a simple quote, but it speaks volumes.
Edgecombe plays with the kind of anticipation and poise you usually see in players with a decade of NBA experience. He’s rarely out of place, never forcing the issue, and always seems to be where the game needs him.
That feel was on full display when Maxey - currently third in the league in scoring at 31.5 points per game - missed two games. Edgecombe responded with 22 and 26 points in those contests, stepping up when the Sixers needed another scoring option.
For context, he hadn’t topped 20 points since mid-November, and that 26-point outing matched his second-highest scoring total of the season. It wasn’t just a flash - it was a sign that he can scale his game when called upon.
“I definitely miss him out there,” Edgecombe said of Maxey. “He helps take the load off of everyone on the court.”
That kind of humility, paired with the ability to rise to the moment, is exactly what makes Edgecombe so intriguing. He’s not chasing numbers - he’s playing the right way, and the production is following.
Fitting In Next to Maxey, Embiid, and George
Edgecombe hasn’t had a ton of minutes with both Embiid and George yet, but the potential is tantalizing. The Sixers went from assembling a Big 3 to watching that plan fizzle last season.
That led to a reset - and ultimately, the No. 3 overall pick that brought Edgecombe to Philly. Now, he’s seamlessly fitting in alongside three max-contract stars.
And he’s not overthinking it.
“And now with Joel and P, I just want to see how we gel as a team,” he said. “Having everyone healthy, that’s something we haven’t seen yet. And I feel like we can be really scary, especially with the level Tyrese is playing at this year.”
That’s the mindset you want from a young player in a high-pressure environment - not wondering how he fits, but focusing on how good the team can be when everyone’s clicking.
More Than Just Athleticism
Coming out of Baylor, Edgecombe’s calling card was athleticism. He’s a high-flyer with a quick first step and the kind of bounce that makes highlight reels. But what’s really separating him at the NBA level is his basketball IQ.
“He’s watched and absorbed a lot of basketball,” Nurse said. “Probably a little bit obsessively. He watched it, he had the bug and he can’t get enough of it.”
That obsession started years ago in The Bahamas, where Edgecombe grew up. Around 2017 or 2018, his mom got him an iPad - and that changed everything. He started watching basketball constantly, studying the game and memorizing plays, tendencies, and styles.
“I watch a lot of basketball and I have a really good memory too,” he said. “My IQ definitely came from watching basketball. Now, I’m just trying to continue to grow it, get better at it - try to be one of the best players in the league with the best IQ.”
That film-room mentality is showing up in real time. Whether it’s making the right read in transition, rotating perfectly on defense, or slipping into open space for a timely bucket, Edgecombe consistently makes the right play. And that’s something coaches notice - and trust.
Rookie of the Year Material?
Let’s be clear: the Rookie of the Year race is still wide open. Flagg, Knueppel, and Queen are putting up big numbers and carrying heavy loads on rebuilding teams.
But Edgecombe is doing something different - and arguably harder. He’s producing, fitting in, and standing out on a team that’s trying to win now.
That matters.
He’s not just learning on the job - he’s helping the Sixers win games. And if this is what he looks like at 20, with a full roster still not quite healthy, imagine what the next few months could hold.
So while the spotlight may be shining brightest on others, don’t sleep on VJ Edgecombe. He’s not just part of the Rookie of the Year conversation - he might just be redefining what it means to be a rookie in today’s NBA.