VJ Edgecombe Gets Praised By 76ers Head Coach

Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard VJ Edgecombe has made a lasting impression on his fans, his teammates and even his coaches. Although he's only been seen in action during the NBA Summer League, Edgecombe has showcased what he can offer for the 76ers. His All-Star teammate, Paul George, went as far as to compare him to six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler.

In his first Summer League game, Edgecombe posted 28 points and 10 rebounds in Salt Lake City. Based only on his lone performance in the tournament, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse already expressed his admiration for the young guard.

Nurse appeared as a guest on the podcast "The Hoop Collective" and had high praise for Edgecombe.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe watches the game.

Candice Ward-Imagn Images

"Just a lot of everything," Nurse said. "First of all, incredible athlete. Does things defensively. Like, he's good defensively, but he makes plays, shot-blocker, you don't see that a lot (shot-blocking) from the wing position. Tries really hard on D. Explosive.

"Looked like he's got some shimmy to get his own shot off. He's a full-court player, getting up and down in transition. And then he's an incredible person, he's really all about working really hard. Super respectful, and he's just great to be around."

Edgecombe has shown a ton of upside with the way he's played. He's only appeared in one Summer League game, as he's dealing with a left thumb sprain.

Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers expect the former Baylor star to share the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry.