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Sixers Rookie ‘Hated College Basketball’

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As the Philadelphia 76ers gear up for next season, there are questions abound about how they’ll follow up their disastrous 2024-25 campaign. With that being said, the ultimate predictor of their success will likely be their health. However, the play of rookie VJ Edgecombe should have a concrete impact as well.

Selected with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Edgecombe enters the NBA as an elite defender. Yet, he also has the potential to be a two-way star. The key to how well he performs offensively could come down to how well he’s able to stroke it from outside. Yet, arguably the most explosive player in his draft class, even more important is the spacing that’s around him.

Sixers Rookie VJ Edgecombe ‘Hated College Basketball’

On Monday, Edgecombe sat down with Sixers teammate Paul George on the latter’s popular podcast, Podcast P with Paul George. Asked about the way NBA spacing could impact his game, the soon-to-be 20-year-old didn’t hold back:

“So, remember I played with the Bahamas team? Yeah, so I was already in some space, kind of playing in professional-type spacing,” Edgecombe relays.

“College though? I hated college basketball, personally. Some people love it. I don’t.

Because I was also dealing with two centers —two bigs —sitting in the paint. I’m trying to get to the cup, and it was bad. I’m like, ‘Bro, I got no space to operate.’ And then you can sit in the paint, you know what I’m saying? There’s no three-second rule. Nothing.”

Balling For The Bahamas

Edgecombe making note of his time with the Bahamas men’s national team was extremely notable. During that pre-draft stretch that he truly shined as an NBA prospect. With the Bahamas looking to gain entry to the Paris Olympics through a Qualifying Tournament, Edgecombe found himself teamed up with the likes of Sixers guard Eric Gordon, Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield and Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton.

Fresh out of high school, he looked like their best player.

Dec 10, 2022; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Wasatch Academy guard Isiah Harwell (left) dives for a loose ball against Long Island Lutheran guard VJ Edgecombe during the HoopHall West basketball tournament at Chaparral High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In the Olympic Qualifiers, Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. He wasn’t just productive but efficient, shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3. Flying in and attacking the rack throughout the tournament, he definitely wasn’t hindered by a lack of spacing.

Naturally, Edgecombe’s stock shot up following the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Former Duke commit and eventual Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was still the consensus top pick. However, Edgecombe cemented himself as a top-five 2025 NBA Draft prospect.

That’s what made his rough start with Baylor so disappointing.

Bear Or Bull?

In his first five games with the Bears, Edgecombe averaged 11.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He could hardly buy a bucket, shooting 33.9 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from 3. As he says, it was bad.

It’s a credit to Edgecombe’s talent and intangibles that he was able to right the ship after that. For the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season, he averaged 15.8 points per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from 3. He continued to make noticeable contributions around the board, as he also averaged 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

© Chris Jones-Imagn Images

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