Copyright thenassauguardian
It’s only the opening weeks of the 2025-26 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, but Philadelphia 76ers’ rookie Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe is already turning heads around the league. The Bahamian guard’s explosive play has powered the Sixers to an undefeated start and has sparked hope in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’. The Sixers had a dismal 3-12 win/loss record through 15 games last year, and ended up 24-58, but they already earned their fourth win of the season this year, sporting an undefeated 4-0 record. The Bahamian rookie has played a pivotal role in the team’s early success this season, despite them having key players out of the rotation. Edgecombe tipped off his rookie campaign with a historic debut against the Boston Celtics last week. He dropped a whopping 34 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out three assists to go with one steal in 41 minutes of play in his official NBA debut. His impressive 34 points were the most scored by a rookie since Wilt Chamberlain scored 43 points in his debut with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959. Additionally, he set a franchise record for the most points scored by a rookie in a debut, and surpassed LeBron James’ 22-year-old record for most points scored in the first quarter of a debut game with 14 points. James had 12 in the first quarter of his first game in 2003. Since then, the 20-year-old athletic guard has been in a class of his own among rookies. He currently leads all rookies in scoring at 22.3 points per game on an efficient 47.1 percent shooting from the field and 42.9 percent shooting from three-point range. The Bimini native is also averaging 5.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 40.3 minutes of play. He has certainly meshed well in the backcourt alongside Sixers’ starting point guard Tyrese Maxey. The Maxey-Edgecombe duo is shouldering the offensive load for the Sixers, with former league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Joel Embiid playing on a minutes restriction plan and nine-time NBA all-star Paul George sidelined with an injury. Maxey and Edgecombe are averaging a combined 59.8 points per game — most by a starting backcourt in the NBA this season. In fact, their combined total of 182 points through three games is the most by any starting backcourt in the first three games of a season since 1970-71. The flashy duo has earned the attention of some of the league’s greats, who believe they can emerge as one of the top NBA backcourts this season. Edgecombe, who was drafted third overall by the Sixers this year, is optimistic about what Philadelphia can accomplish once Embiid returns to full health. “With big fella [Embiid] back out there, I think we’re gonna win the chip (championship) if you ask me,” Edgecombe said on ESPN’s ‘Inside the NBA’ on Wednesday. “I don’t care what anyone got to say.” As mentioned, the Sixers finished last season with a 24-58 record, missing both the playoffs and play-in tournament after losing Embiid, Maxey, and George to injury. However, with Maxey looking like an early MVP candidate, and Edgecombe exceeding expectations, the Sixers have a lot to look forward to when George returns to the rotation and if Embiid ever gets back to full strength. The Sixers will look to remain undefeated when they take on the Boston Celtics tonight. The teams will go head-to-head in their opening game of the Emirates NBA Cup In-Season Tournament at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game gets underway at 7 p.m.
