VJ Edgecombe has played one game for the Philadelphia 76ers since being drafted with the third overall draft pick. He suited up for the Sixers against the Utah Jazz and Ace Bailey, dropping 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Since then, Edgecombe has been on the sidelines. He is working through a thumb sprain. Despite only taking to the court once, Paul George likes what he’s seen from his latest teammate.
“I thought he looked good,” George said via his “Podcast P with Paul George” podcast. “I thought he looked good on both ends of the floor. It’s dope to see the difference between college and NBA with spacing because, you know, he was able to get to his mid-range…Like, there’s just so much space for guys when you cross over from college to the NBA. And I thought he put it all out on display. He showed flashes of stardom. And the pick and roll, that’s not something that comes naturally, especially for young guys that aren’t point guards. I saw him reading when to come off fast, kind of hesitating off of the pick and roll, getting downhill.”
George continued.
“He’s got this little patent, one-two spin turnaround jumper…
Edgecombe may not compete in the Las Vegas Summer League tournament. However, he’s clearly impressing those around him. And for that reason, Sixers fans should be excited for what’s to come.
Analyst Impressed by Sixers’ VJ Edgecombe
During a recent appearance on “The Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Tim McMahon heaped praise on the Sixers guard.
“Edgecombe, you watch him and he is just a wow athlete,” McMahon said. “The turbo button, the leaping ability. I mean, he got up 27 shots, and there weren’t a lot where you said, ‘Boy, he forced that one.’ Ten rebounds. He is a high-level athlete. I mean, he might be a top 10 athlete when he steps on the board…VJ Edgecombe is the fourth top 5 pick to have 25 25-point, 10-rebound game in Summer League since 2017. The others? Wemby, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum. No guarantees, but not bad company to be in.”
Nick Nurse will undoubtedly find ways to ensure Edgecombe is part of the rotation next season. The rookie clearly has significant upside, and with George already on his side, he could be a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year race.
Sixers Summer League Coach Speaks on Edgecombe
When speaking to the media following a recent “mini camp”, TJ DiLeo, the Sixers Summer League coach, shared his first impressions of Edgecombe.
“I think, in general, he’s a smart player,” DiLeo said, via Ky Carlin of SixersWire. “He sees the floor well, and as you guys all know, he’s a threat to punch a gap at any time. So, defenses have to respect that. I think he can be a really good, like, pick guys, chase, stuff like that. I think we’re keeping it pretty simple for everybody right now. We want early attacks. We want all that and he’s done a tremendous job of that so far.”
It will be interesting to see whether Edgecombe is injected back into the Summer League rotation once his thumb has healed. Either way, though, there should be little doubt that he’s ready for NBA basketball, and all that comes with it.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Paul George Makes Bold Comparison for Sixers’ Rookie: “A Young Jimmy Butler” appeared first on Heavy Sports.