Latest news with #Edgecombe
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN gives the Philadelphia 76ers high marks for 2025 draft results
The Philadelphia 76ers made a couple of selections in the 2025 NBA draft as they picked Baylor star VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick in Round 1 and then Auburn star Johni Broome No. 35 overall in Round 2. The two of them are expected to help the Sixers move forward on their championship path. The Sixers are expected have Edgecombe join a talented, but small, backcourt. Philadelphia will have Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Edgecombe, and possibly Quentin Grimes in the backcourt in 2025-26. Maxey, McCain, and Edgecombe are all smaller guards, but they all can score and make a big impact in their own way on the basketball court. The Sixers have a chance to be dynamic at the guard position. ESPN gave their draft grades for 2025 and the Sixers received a B+ for their rookie class: Although Knueppel was a little ahead in my projections, I probably would have taken Edgecombe here, too. I like his defensive base, with a sky-high steal rate at Baylor, and athleticism to become a shot creator. Knueppel might have fit more cleanly with Joel Embiid, but given the state of Embiid's health, I'm not sure that should be Philadelphia's primary timeline anymore. A consensus first-team All-America pick last season, Broome could help the Sixers immediately. He brings more skill to the center spot than the backups (Andre Drummond and Adem Bona) who struggled to fill in for Embiid last season. The Sixers could have selected Kon Knueppel, which would have been another solid pick for No. 3, but Edgecombe is a much more athletic player and can help on the defensive end right away. Broome, on the other hand, is a burly, but skilled big man who will be able to learn from the likes of Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond at the big man spot as he moves forward in his rookie season.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe's emotional ‘no electricity' revelation during draft reaction
The post 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe's emotional 'no electricity' revelation during draft reaction appeared first on ClutchPoints. The NBA Draft is always an emotional night, but few had more tear-jerking thoughts in 2025 than Philadelphia 76ers selection VJ Edgecombe. Advertisement After getting taken at No. 3 overall, Edgecombe could hardly contain his emotions while thanking his mother and reflecting on his journey. The former Baylor guard revealed how much his mother sacrificed to get him to his goal, saying his family had 'no electricity' for the majority of his childhood. 'She worked too hard, man, she worked too hard,' Edgecombe said. 'Especially for me, my brothers, my little sisters and my little brother. I just want to return the favor for her… Man, those long nights. I lived off a generator. I had no electricity; I lived off a generator for seven years. Seeing what she had to go through to feed us, man, it's crazy.' Edgecombe was born and raised in the Bahamas before moving to Florida in high school to advance his basketball career. He spent his prep years playing for two different schools — Victory International Institute and Long Island Lutheran High School — before committing to Baylor as a five-star prospect. Advertisement Edgecombe joins the 76ers after averaging 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game in his lone season at Baylor. The athletic guard figures to slot into Philadelphia's backcourt rotation with Kyle Lowry, Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. hitting free agency. VJ Edgecombe joins 76ers' intriguing backcourt rotation Bill Streicher-Imagn Images As the 76ers' newest member, Edgecombe provides a unique skill set for a struggling team in transition. The 19-year-old forms an intriguing tandem with 2024 first-round pick Jared McCain, who projects to return from a torn meniscus in 2025-2026. Edgecombe and McCain give the team a lot of optimism for the future. Before going down, McCain was the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award, posting stellar averages of 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 38.3 percent from deep. Advertisement While the team boasts a promising core of young talent, Joel Embiid's status remains up in the air. The team provided an ominous update on the former MVP's injury status ahead of the draft, offering no answers. Embiid, who appeared in just 19 games in 2024-2025, continues to be one of the biggest wild cards of the league. Related: Live 2025 NBA Draft grades for every 1st-round pick, trade Related: 76ers rumors: Joel Embiid injury concerns spark Khaman Maluach draft speculation
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jay Bilas drops mind blowing 76ers' V.J. Edgecombe over Dwyane Wade take
The post Jay Bilas drops mind blowing 76ers' V.J. Edgecombe over Dwyane Wade take appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Philadelphia 76ers got their guy with the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft, selecting V.J. Edgecombe out of Baylor. Edgecombe is an explosive shooting guard who can make plays on both sides of the ball, and many people have already started the comparisons for him. Advertisement ESPN's Jay Bilas had a few comparisons for Edgecombe, one of which included a current Hall of Famer. 'You know he's 19 years old, he's from the Bahamas. And on the player comp side, I'm saying he reminds me of Victor Oladipo when he was 19 and Dwyane Wade when he was 19,' Bilas said on the Pat McAfee Show. 'I'm not saying he's the Miami Heat Dwyane Wade yet, but at 19, you couldn't tell these two guys apart, you might even take Edgecombe. Because I think Edgecombe at 19 is probably better than Dwyane Wade was at 19.' It's obvious that Bilas has high expectations for Edgecombe, and saying that he may have been better coming out of the college than Wade is huge. He may not have the same impact on the 76ers in his first year than Wade did with the Heat, but there is a chance for him to grow into something special. 76ers excited to add V.J. Edgecombe to the team After adding Edgecombe to the team, general manager Daryl Morey seemed excited about the pick. Advertisement 'We're super excited about V.J. and that we got the chance to draft him,' Morey said via The Athletic's Tony Jones. 'He's a dynamic athlete. We think he's one of the best athletes in the draft. We think he has a chance to be a potential All-Star, and he's going to be a two-way player coming into the league. He has a lot of winning qualities, and we think he is going to be a really good fit. We think he is going to be a great teammate.' The 76ers already have a veteran team that is ready to win now, and they are led by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. Adding Edgecombe to the fold will be big for them, and he can be a key piece in the present and the future. His ceiling is high, and there's a chance he could make an impact on Day 1 for the 76ers. Related: 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe's emotional 'no electricity' revelation during draft reaction Related: Live 2025 NBA Draft grades for every 1st-round pick, trade
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
76ers rumors: VJ Edgecombe ‘nervous' during private workout, but there's a silver lining
The post 76ers rumors: VJ Edgecombe 'nervous' during private workout, but there's a silver lining appeared first on ClutchPoints. Now that the NBA Finals have officially come to a close, the full attention of the league has flipped over to the NBA Draft. There are some very intriguing selections coming near the top of the draft after Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper go with the top two picks on Wednesday night. That intrigue starts with the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3. Advertisement For a large chunk of the college basketball season, Rutgers star Ace Bailey was viewed as the No. 3 prospect in the draft. However, his pre-draft process hasn't gone according to plan, leaving an unlikely scenario that lands him in Philly. Instead, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe is the favorite to go at that spot after a stellar freshman season for Scott Drew and company. However, Edgecombe recently had a private workout with the 76ers that didn't go entirely smoothly on the court. Despite that, he still impressed the team off the floor, according to Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN. 'While sources say Edgecombe appeared nervous during his private workout in Philadelphia and did not shoot the ball particularly well in an unnatural one-on-one setting, he made a strong impression in interviews and meetings, something the front office values more highly,' Givony and Woo wrote. Edgecombe would likely have to play the three in Philadelphia while playing alongside Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey, but he is no stranger to playing in small lineups. Baylor was exclusively a small-ball team last season, so Edgecombe will be comfortable in that kind of setting. Advertisement The top thing that pops off the screen with the former five-star recruit is his incredible athleticism. Edgecombe is a monster in transition and is capable of highlight finishes around the basket at any time. His jump shot also showed strides last season, which should give 76ers fans optimism should they draft him. Edgecombe's handle and shot creation will be the biggest swing skill for his development, but at the very least he projects as a quality starter who can impact the game on both ends. While it may take him some time to adjust to the NBA, Edgecombe should make an impact in year one if he is in Philadelphia. Related: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro sends 76ers a 'no Ace Bailey' demand Related: 76ers rumors: Philadelphia hit with stark Quentin Grimes contract projection
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Complete 2025 Philadelphia 76ers draft results: grade, scouting report
The 2025 NBA draft is in the books and the Philadelphia 76ers have to walk away feeling good about their prospects. They added a potential All-Star to their backcourt with the No. 3 pick while adding the 2025 SEC Player of the Year with the No. 35 pick in Round 2. Baylor's VJ Edgecombe and Auburn's Johni Broome should be able to make an impact in Philadelphia right away. Edgecombe figures to be int he rotation while Broome, who may not have the biggest upside, will have some type of role depending on what shakes out in terms of the summer. The Sixers also added undrafted Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis on a two-way deal after the draft ended. He figures to be in the G League in the 2025-26 season. Here are the complete results for Philadelphia including a grade, scouting report, and thoughts on each addition: Round 1, pick No. 3: VJ Edgecombe 2024-25 stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg, 43.6% FG, 34% 3FG If one was following along with Sixers Wire's draft big boards, then this isn't a surprising pick. Edgecombe was at the No. 1 spot for Philadelphia in six of the seven big boards created before the night on Wednesday and the Sixers made the right choice. While some might say Rutgers star Ace Bailey should have been the pick here regardless of his questionable draft strategy due to his tremendous upside, it's obvious that Edgecombe wants to be here and his competitiveness and work ethic will allow him to make an impact in Philadelphia next to Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. Edgecombe will make the biggest impact on the defensive end. His IQ, athleticism, and anticipation skills will shine on that end of the floor. On the offensive end, he relies on his strength and athletic ability to get to the basket and finish, but he has shown a capability to shoot the ball. In terms of his catch-and-shoot ability, a skill needed on a team with Joel Embiid on it, he shot 45-for-124 (36.3%) on catch-and-shoot 3s per Synergy Sports. However, he did shoot 21-for-45 (46.7%) when unguarded on those attempts. It shows that he can knock down an open look should it be needed. He is somebody who will need to work on that jumper, but the Sixers have to like the early tape on him. Grade: A-minus Round 2, pick No. 35: Johni Broome 2024-25 stats: 18.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 bpg, 51% FG, 27.8% 3FG The 2025 SEC Player of the Year, Broome will turn a lot of teams off with his age--he'll turn 23 in July. That limits his upside at the next level, but he is a bruiser who has a soft touch around the basket while being a ferocious rebounder. He's also an underrated passer and somebody who can protect the rim as well. The big man finished his college career as Auburn's all-time leader in offensive and defensive rebounds, No. 1 in Box Plus-Minus, third in blocks, eighth in total field goals, and first in offensive win shares while being there for three years after two seasons at Morehead State. All of that shows that he has an impact on winning and should bring that mentality to Philadelphia. He stands at 6-foot-10 which could bother fans as they hoped the Sixers would add some more size. Especially, with Maxime Raynaud--who stands at 7-foot-1 and can shoot the 3--on the board at the moment, but Broome has a lot of talent. He has a high motor and despite not necessarily having a position, his versatility can be a big help. Versatility is a big deal in today's NBA and Broome can bring that to Philadelphia. Grade: B-minus Undrafted and signed to a two-way: Hunter Sallis 2024-25 stats: 18.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 45.7% FG, 27.7% 3FG The Sixers have hit on some undrafted gems in the past with Ricky Council IV in 2023 and Justin Edwards in 2024 and will be hoping for another find in Sallis. His 3-point percentage dipped from the 40.5% he shot in the 2023-24 season so that is a bit concerning, but there is some upside. He's a hard worker, physical, gets after it on both ends of the floor, and can contribute when put in the right situation. His 2025-26 season will likely be spent in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats to give him the necessary court time to develop.
