If the first three games of his career are a sign of things to come, Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe is already one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. It’s a bold claim based on a small sample size, but the former Baylor Bears star has hit the ground running with Usain Bolt-type sprint speed.
For all the hype that helped Edgecombe shoot boards to No. 3 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, it somehow feels like the hype has undersold his skills.
Edgecombe started his NBA career with 34 points and seven rebounds in a win over the Boston Celtics. He followed up his stellar debut with 15 points, eight assists, six rebounds, three steals and a block in a win against the Charlotte Hornets.
In his third and most recent appearance, Edgecombe proved his early success is anything but a fluke with 26 points, seven assists, four rebounds, one block and a steal in a win over the Orlando Magic.
VJ Edgecombe is the first guard in NBA history to average 25/5/5 in three career games. pic.twitter.com/6IXdQOl9ZV
— Real Sports (@realapp) October 28, 2025
There are still 79 regular season games to be played, but Edgecombe has made it perfectly clear that he has all the potential to become an elite two-way player in the NBA sooner or later.
76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe is not only going to be great, but he already is
Edgecombe not only puts up numbers but excels at every stage of the game. He creates for his teammates with the poise, precision and creativity of a point guard, dishing out 15 assists in just four goals over the past two games.
He also scores at all three levels, breaking down opponents with his handle, working off the ball for opportunities inside and outside the area, and operating as a blur in transition.
Edgecombe also crashes the boards with incredible production for a 6-foot-1 guard who should have more trouble adjusting to the pace of the game. However, the combination of Edgecombe and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey seems to get the best out of both players.
While Edgecombe is showing how close he already is to stardom, Maxey is dominating with two 40-point, 23-assist games in his first three appearances in 2025-26.
Admittedly, it’s likely that Edgecombe will encounter his share of rookie hurdles, as all first-year players often do. Even LeBron James shot at a .417/.290/.753 clip during his rookie season – the only time in his career he shot worse than 47.2 percent from the field.
What Edgecombe proves in the short term, however, is that he isn’t just a defensive asset in the making with advantages he can explore in attack; he’s a ready-made talent whose ceiling is terrifying to think about.
Edgecombe plays with an advanced level of poise and intelligence, moving well without the ball and consistently putting himself in the perfect position to simplify the game for his teammates. He also carries heavy defensive assignments, spending a lot of time with players like LaMelo Ball, Desmond Bane and Jaylen Brown.
The hype in the final weeks leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft has been surreal, but Edgecombe has somehow exceeded all expectations in just three games.
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