Anthony Edwards is the vision for VJ Edgecombe

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick, and his star potential is clear. With comparable frames, elite athleticism, the ability to create shots for himself, and impactful defense, the similarities between Edgecombe and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards are clear. If Edgecombe reaches his ceiling, Edwards is a clear outcome. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Edgecombe lists Edwards as his favorite NBA player. In his first NBA Summer League game, Edgecombe poured in 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal, which included numerous highlight plays. While Edgecombe didn’t play in the final two games of the Utah Summer League, he is poised to have a strong outing in Las Vegas and, of course, more importantly, in his rookie season.

The similarities between Edgecombe and Edwards

While Edgecombe mostly gets compared to Victor Oladipo, his similarities to Edwards are undeniable. With a 38.5-inch vertical, Edgecombe is an elite athlete. As a scorer, this allows Edgecombe to pressure the rim constantly. He particularly thrives in transition but can also score at a high level in half-court settings. This high-flying athleticism and ability dominant at the rim is similar to Edwards. At Baylor, he averaged 15 points in his freshman season. 

Edgecombe doesn’t have the same level of self-creation as Edwards did when he entered the league. However, he is competent in this area and could develop further. Edwards' 3-point shooting has steadily improved throughout his career, culminating in this past season, where he led the league in made 3s. For Edgecombe, who is entering the league as a solid yet not great shooter, Edwards' trajectory offers a clear blueprint for success.

Both off-guards are solid secondary playmakers, but neither is a lead ball handler by any means. Edgecombe also needs to add strength to reach this Edwards-level ceiling. Regardless, his physical tools are clear, and he’ll continue to add strength as his career progresses.

Defensively, Edgecombe uses his elite athleticism to wreak havoc both on and off the ball. He is a high-level on-ball perimeter stopper who can even guard some forwards if needed. Off-ball, Edgecombe plays passing lanes extremely well and blocks shots as an active help-side defender. Notably, at Baylor, he averaged 2.1 steals and 0.6 steals. Edgecombe’s ability to force turnovers also leads to plenty of scoring opportunities. This defensive repertoire is eerily similar to Ant. 

Overall, Edgecombe’s two-way impact makes him clearly similar to Edwards. Edgecombe may never reach Edwards’ level as an offensive creator. Nevertheless, if he becomes a star, he’ll look something like a slightly more defensive-minded version of Edwards. It will be interesting to watch how Edgecombe’s rookie season unfolds; however, his expectations should be high.