It was a tale of two games for VJ Edgecomb and Cooper Flagg that started their respective NBA careers.
VJ Edgecomb and Cooper Flagg both made their official NBA debuts tonight, and it’s safe to say they made their presence known.
Cooper Flagg was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the undisputed first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, while VJ Edgecomb was selected third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to Ace Bailey’s poor draft strategy.
But the 76ers will be counting their lucky stars for choosing Edgecombe. Because he was really great for them in the opening game.
Cooper Flagg had a good performance against the Spurs, but his performance was a reminder that he’s not the type of player to win Rookie of the Year.
In his rookie debut, VJ Edgecombe had an amazing performance, recording 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists while making 5 3-point shots.
His performance will go down in history as the third-highest debut score for a rookie, behind only Wilt Chamberlain and Frank Selvey.
Additionally, he became the first rookie to score in the first quarter of a debut game since LeBron James in 2003.
Down South, Cooper Flagg made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks. Although he turned his performance around in the second half, it was a tough night.
Flagg was scoreless in the first half, but finished the game with 10 points, 10 rebounds and one steal. Well, Flagg was able to do his job against Victor Wenbanyama, but that wasn’t all.
Jason Kidd likes Cooper Flagg’s ball-handling skills, so the Mavericks are playing him as a point guard. And while Flagg may be extremely talented, he is by no means a natural point guard.
If Flagg ends up playing the point until Kyrie Irving returns, his chances of winning the Rookie of the Year title are in jeopardy.
VJ Edgecombe had a great performance on the road on opening night, reminding everyone that competing for Rookie of the Year is not a foregone conclusion.
Carmelo Anthony doubts Edgecomb can win Rookie of the Year, but it’s hard to doubt Edgecombe based on his performance.
Of course, this is just Game 1 and there’s a lot more basketball to be played. But the NBA’s opening week should serve as a reminder to fans not to count out other rookies.
There are some exciting rookies in the league this season, so keep an eye on the Rookie of the Year race, as it’s sure to be an exciting race.