Philadelphia 76ers rookie Valdez Drexel Edgecombe Jr. announced himself on the national stage Friday night.
Edgecombe took part in the NBA’s early All-Star weekend festivities, playing for legendary high-flyer Vince Carter in the Rising Stars event. The rookie was joined by fellow up-and-coming players, including Utah’s Keyonte George, Brooklyn’s Egor Dëmin and New Orleans’ Derik Queen, among others.
Team Vince entered as the tournament’s underdog, facing loaded rosters headlined by Kon Knueppel and Tre Johnson on Team T-Mac, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle alongside Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey on Team Melo, and a squad of young, impactful G League players led by Austin Rivers.
Team Vince’s first test came against Team T-Mac, a game in which the winner would be the first team to reach 40 points. VJ Edgecombe scored a game-high 17 points, including the game-winning bucket to seal the team’s 41-36 victory.
In the finals, Team Vince faced Team Melo, who had overcome Team Rivers in a closer-than-expected matchup (40-34). The championship was decided by the first team to reach 25 points.
Though quieter offensively, Edgecombe delivered when it mattered most. After Stephon Castle put up Team Melo 22-21, Edgecombe flew into the paint for an offensive rebound and a quick putback. Castle countered with his own second-chance bucket, but driving to the rim against Blazers’ shot-blocking center Donovan Clingan, Edgecombe drew the foul and, with two timely free throws, secured another victory for Team Vince, this time by a final score of 25-24.
In their first game, VJ Edgecombe was the only player to play every minute. He did so again in the championship game, making him the only player to play every possible minute during the Rising Stars event, something that has become almost routine for the Sixers’ rookie.
Clutch play is nothing new for the Sixers’ sensational rookie. Among the NBA’s rookies, Edgecombe ranks second only to Rookie of the Year favorite Cooper Flagg for the most clutch points per game, shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three in clutch situations. Edgecombe showcased that clutch ability on a national stage, earning MVP honors in the process.
As Edgecombe made his way to the line for his championship-winning free throws, Philadelphia 76ers two-time All-Star and Edgecombe’s backcourt mate, Tyrese Maxey, was courtside, cheering on his teammate and posting the final moments and subsequent celebration to his Instagram story.
Unofficially dubbed VJ Maxx, the two guards have built a bond deeper than basketball in less than a year as teammates. Edgecombe will next have the opportunity to cheer on Maxey in the NBA Three-Point Competition Saturday night before rooting for Maxey on Sunday as he makes his first career start in the NBA All-Star Game.
Judging by Friday’s performance and his strong rookie season so far, VJ Edgecombe won’t be watching the NBA All-Star Game from the sidelines for long.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats included in this article are via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass, Basketball Reference or Team Rankings. All salary information via Spotrac.
