VJ Edgecombe has been one of the best stories of the NBA season so far, and not just for a tortured Philadelphia 76ers fan base but for the entire NBA community. Rarely do we see a rookie make such an immediate impact. In his first three games as a pro, VJ is averaging an absurd 25 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6 assists, on 50/40/75 shooting splits.
Edgecombe's 34 points in his NBA debut (the most in a rookie debut game since Wilt Chamberlain) put everyone on notice, and he hasn't turned back since.
The Baylor product is an uber athletic off-guard who can create shots for himself at will and has a relentless motor on both ends of the floor. Remind you of anyone, Minnesota Timberwolves fans? Dare I say Anthony Edwards? Yes, comparing a rookie who has just played three games to Edwards might seem far-fetched, and maybe VJ cools down as the year goes on.
Nevertheless, Edwards has always been the high-end comparison for the No. 3 pick; they're just so similar. Over the summer, I wrote about just that, and I am far from the first person to notice the similarities between the two players. Edgecombe has also noted that Edwards is the player he watches the most.
At the same time, I didn't expect Edgecombe to look so much like Edwards this soon into his career.
VJ Edgecombe is already justifying pre-draft comparisons to Anthony Edwards
The main thing that pops with both players is their ungodly athleticism. They both attack the rim with a rare combination of force and finesse. Edgecombe is shooting an absurd 75 percent within five feet of the basket on 5.3 attempts.
It remains to be seen if this number is sustainable, but there's no denying how impressive it is that Edgecombe is already this comfortable. For reference, Edwards shot 57.7 percent from this range as a rookie.
Edgecombe's shot creation has really stood out to me; 65 percent of his made fields are unassisted. This highlights his potential to be the focal point of an elite offense like Edwards. 3-point shooting was one area of Edwards' game that has taken time to develop.
However, Edgecombe is already showing impressive accuracy from deep range netting, 40 percent on 6.7 attempts. Again, it's a small sample size, but this combination of volume and efficiency bodes well for Edgecombe.
VJ Edgecombe looked like a STAR tonight for the Philadelphia 76ers. Look at the pull-up shots and floater touch. Not all of his looks were assisted on tonight. He created some shots of his own impressively. And made some nice, easy passing reads! 26 points, 7 assists. pic.twitter.com/0Jd5xf0w6K
— Nathan Grubel (@DraftDeeper) October 28, 2025
While Tyrese Maxey is the Sixers' lead playmaker, Edgecombe has been a fantastic secondary playmaker, averaging 6 assists with a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. He makes nice reads both at the top of the key and while driving. This is another area of Edwards' game that has taken time to develop (and is still growing). Regardless, Edgecombe is certainly ahead of schedule as a playmaker.
Defensively, he has been incredibly disruptive off the ball, averaging 2.4 stocks. He could improve a little as an on-ball defender (kind of the opposite of Edwards, actually). However, it feels like I'm nitpicking, given how exceptional he has been throughout his young career so far.
Edgecombe has been as composed and impactful as any rookie guard in recent memory. In fact, he is the first guard to average at least 25/5/5 during the first three games of his career. A lot can change, but so far, those pre-draft comparisons to Edwards don't look too lofty now.