The upcoming season presents a lot of storylines for the Philadelphia 76ers. From the state of their star players to the development of their young core, there are many narratives worth looking into. Among these, the growth of 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe is poised to be one of the more interesting ones.
Edgecombe has been positioned as one of the most talented players in the draft. Boasting a high ceiling, the rookie has the potential to earn himself a significant role in the regular season.
The guard hasn’t had the avenues to display his skills at the professional level, as his performances at the Las Vegas Summer League this year were hindered by injury. However, recent training camp footage during one-on-one drills could draw significant interest from fans.
Edgecombe and Maxey really getting after it (and the rook is winning) pic.twitter.com/wtbTyL1787
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) September 28, 2025
At the end of training, Edgecombe could be seen facing off against fellow teammates such as Kelly Oubre Jr. and 76ers star Tyrese Maxey. While it would be expected for the rookie to be overshadowed by the veterans, Edgecombe not only managed to hold his ground, but he also seemed to be dominating against them.
The rookie’s performance was certainly impressive. With fans taking note of this, several shared their reactions on social media. Here are some from X.
“VJ already clears Maxey,” claimed one user.
“VJ takes his a** to the basket, he’s too small,” added another, highlighting the size difference between Edgecombe and Maxey.
“I see a little bit of Jimmy Butler mixed with Ant-Man. Way too early: bit VJ looks good,” said a third, making a bold comparison to proven NBA stars.
“Maxey washed at 24,” joked one user.
One concerned fan shared a strategy for Philadelphia to protect Edgecombe. They said, “Put him in bubble wrap till the season starts so nothing crazy happens to him like usual.”
Another fan was simply in awe of Edgecombe’s skill, as they acknowledged, “Hold up. They told me this man couldn’t handle the rock.”
One fan was so impressed with the display that they suggested the 76ers embrace a rebuild, adding, “Trade Embiid and PG for whatever you can get and play through Maxey, McCain, and Edgecombe.”
Another simply stated, “Backcourt of the future.”
“Rookie of the year loading,” claimed another user.
“Not a Sixers fan, but they got a GEM,” added another, acknowledging Edgecombe’s potential.
The brief display has already generated enough buzz around the 20-year-old to suggest that he could be a key addition to the team’s core moving forward. Given his skill set, innate athletic abilities, and potential, there is enough evidence to indicate that his talent is worth cultivating.
In this regard, the rookie will already have some avenues available to him in the upcoming season.
The 76ers are expected to see sophomore guard Jared McCain sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a thumb injury. Barring the ongoing contract negotiations with Quentin Grimes, who could also be competing with Edgecombe for minutes in the rotation, this presents an opportunity for the rookie to earn more playing time in the starting lineup.
Philadelphia boasts an incredibly talented young core. However, the onus lies on the ownership to chart out the future of the franchise, specifically concerning Joel Embiid and Paul George.
