By: Kylan Watson

After a tumultuous 2024-25 NBA season that was filled with injuries, the Philadelphia 76ers started the offseason with the third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Philly selected V.J. Edgecombe who was a star player for Baylor University Bears this season. Additionally, with his length and slashing ability, it will give the Sixers a reliable defender with explosive athleticism.

He scored 15.0 points per game, grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game, and made 43.6% of his field goal attempts throughout the season. Philly now has a very dynamic core of young players headlined by Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Edgecombe. Playing in a Nick Nurse defensive scheme should help him become one of the best defenders in the league. In college he was one of the best defenders in college basketball, and if he can bring that tenacity to the Sixers it should give their opponents nightmares throughout the season.

One of the two weaknesses in Edgecombe’s game are his three-point shooting and his handle. Philly has shown an ability to help young players develop and improve their three-point shooting. Three-point shooting was one of the knocks on Tyrese Maxey’s game as well and after a few seasons with the Sixers he has improved his three-point shooting. As a result of this development, he became one of the best three-point shooters in the league.

Also, if Edgecombe’s shooting develops on a similar track he could help add even more spacing to the Sixers offense. He will have plenty of opportunity to develop his shot playing next to Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George who will create multiple high-percentage shooting opportunities for him to cash in on.

It seems like the Sixers learned from watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals over the past two weeks. Both of those teams have multiple guard line-ups headlined by defensive minded dogs like Alex Caruso, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard. Philly is going in that direction as well and should be a terror on the wing with Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes anchoring their perimeter defensive scheme.

Edgecombe seems like a player that will fit right in with the gritty nature of Philadelphia and with his athleticism and explosiveness he should become one of the fan favorites on this team. In addition, going up against Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Paul George can only help him improve as a defender and adjust to the style of play in the NBA.

Some NBA experts have compared his game to Dwayne Wade and Victor Oladipo and if he can be a similar player to them, then the Sixers will have drafted one of the best difference makers in this draft.

Edgecombe will have the luxury of being a star in his role, he should not be asked to do too much playing behind Maxey, McCain, and Grimes (Restricted Free Agent). This will give him time to develop his game and become a perimeter defensive anchor for the Sixers. Daryl Morey and the Sixers front office have found another diamond that could help them get back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2001.