76ers may have found a gem, but pushing him too early could quickly backfire

After wrapping up their preseason schedule, the Philadelphia 76ers are finally getting closer to the regular season where the games really count. Touted as one of the biggest wildcards in the league this season, expectations for this side have wavered. Some view the team as a definite playoff contender, while others have positioned them as a low-key title contender thanks to their robust pool of talent.

Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe has been stealing the spotlight for the 76ers thus far, looking like someone who was a highly touted prospect throughout the draft circuit. The Baylor standout, who the team selected third overall in this year’s draft, has been in the spotlight during the preseason, giving fans a good idea of ​​what’s in store for him in his first foray as a professional.

However, the 76ers should hold their horses at Edgecombe. Sure, it gets a lot of people excited to see him do all the things he’s capable of, but this is a rookie we’re talking about. The coaching staff cannot rest on his laurels and be content to rely heavily on him from the start. He must be given a lot of space to make mistakes, play through them and ultimately learn the tricks of the trade.

The 76ers can’t push VJ Edgecombe too hard in his rookie campaign

Offense shouldn’t be an issue for this particular 76ers team. Between their trio of stars in Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, the team has a litany of proven shot makers who can get excited quickly and take over a game when needed. This team has so much raw talent.

As a result, it would be a serious mistake for the 76ers to overload Edgecombe with nearly the same level of responsibility, especially on offense. The coaching staff should instead let him play his real game and not push him as a goal scorer. He’s a rookie, after all, and as his preseason stint shows, he’s still prone to making such miscalculations from time to time.

Fortunately, Edgecombe seems like a very quick study, so it shouldn’t be difficult for the 76ers to seamlessly integrate him into their scoring attack. But more importantly, relaxing his ultimate role as a three-level scorer will also give him the wiggle room needed to make his game more holistic, which is exactly the path he should follow if he wants to be a better all-rounder.