The Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Utah Jazz in their first summer league match, but fans are much excited about the rookie VJ Edgecomb, who leads all the goals scorers.
The Philadelphia 76ers fell in their first summer league showdown and lost to the Utah Jazzes with a 93-89 drop. The outcome was expected as Utah played seven experienced NBA players over ten minutes compared to the Sixers, who only gave just double digits of five veterans.
But despite what players might say, winning and losing is less important in summer leagues. That’s all about rookies that show what the Fringe guys can do, hanging in the NBA and fighting for two-way spots.
Third overall pick VJ Edgecombe led all the scorers with a 28-point double double and threw three stocks appropriately.
At Baylor University, Edgecombe was an outstanding player, averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds, making him one of the most explosive, athletic and exciting players in the country.
After earning the All-Big 12 honors, Edgecombe is expected to become a franchise player for the 76ers, surpassing fifth pick Ace Bailey, who was initially expected to become the third overall pick in the draft. Bailey only offered 8 points to Edge.com’s 28.
Edgecombe shot only 1-1 from the 3-point range, and in college he only digs 34% of his shots. However, he can easily reach the rim and already take advantage of the extra intervals the NBA offers, so he can reach the paint whenever he wants.
“It’s way better than college,” he said after the game. “It’s far better than university because you can’t sit in paint. The university is packed, but the NBA, you know it’s more space. I respected the shooter and everything.”
In Philadelphia, Edge Conveyor shares the floor with Tyreese Maxey, Jared McCain, Paul George, Kelly Ubre and Joel Embiid. Playing next to them should make the most of the rookie. The rookie could be one of the best slashes in the league from day one.
According to BETMGM, Edgecombe has the third best odds to win Rookie of the Year (+1000) after Cooper Flag and Tre Johnson.
Flag is the best newcomer in his class, and everyone is sure of that, and Johnson doesn’t have to postpone it to the veterans of the young Wizards team in Washington.
Edgecombe plays a smaller role than most third picks, but his athleticism and all skill set at both ends of the floor make him one of the great players on the Sixers roster, but with the three All-Stars still in prime, he’s hoping to play a secondary role.
Still, his summer league debut is impossible to ignore, and he already seems to know how to play for his strengths in the NBA. He made seven shots with paint, only nine midrange shots, and six of them.