Sixers select VJ Edgecombe with third overall pick in NBA Draft

With the third pick in the NBA Draft, the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe our of Baylor.

Sixers pull the trigger, land VJ Edgecombe

GOT OUR GUY.

welcome to Philly, @vj_edgecombe! pic.twitter.com/ayY9vzMdnj

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 26, 2025

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The Sixers didn’t just draft a player — they drafted a grenade. VJ Edgecombe enters the league like he was launched out of a cannon, a pure burst of athleticism with the potential to become the most electric guard Philly’s had in a decade.

There’s a smooth violence to the way Edgecombe moves. He doesn’t jump — he levitates. Off one foot, off two, on the break or in a half-court set, the man plays above the rim like it’s his natural habitat. The hang time is surreal, the elevation effortless, and the confidence is unmistakable. When Edgecombe takes off, everyone in the gym knows it.

Athleticism and Defensive Upside: The Real Calling Card

Edgecombe’s elite physical tools are the first thing you notice, but it’s his defensive upside that might end up making him a staple in Nick Nurse’s rotation. He has the instincts of a shutdown corner and the speed to back it up — constantly jumping passing lanes, swatting shots at the guard spot, and applying relentless ball pressure.

This isn’t just projection, either. Edgecombe already showed he can hang with grown men during international play with the Bahamian national team, where he held his own (and then some) alongside Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon. That’s proof of concept that should excite every Sixers fan looking for a future defensive anchor on the perimeter.

Offensive Fit in Philly: TBD, but Intriguing

On the other end, the picture’s a little murkier—but no less interesting. Edgecombe’s shooting is the clear swing skill. The early-season struggles were real, but once January hit, something clicked. His catch-and-shoot numbers leveled out, and he started looking like a viable spot-up threat. If he becomes a knockdown shooter off the catch? That’s a dangerous weapon to place next to Maxey.

But for Edgecombe to truly unlock his game, he’ll need to find control within his chaos. Right now, he’s more fast-twitch than finesse. He tends to leap early on drives, over-trusting his athleticism, which often forces awkward midair contortions and rushed decisions. He has vision and intent, but the execution doesn’t always match—think turnovers in traffic, jump passes to nowhere, and a handle that lags just a half-beat behind his first step.

That’s where coaching comes in. The Sixers won’t need Edgecombe to run the offense—but if they can help him process the game a tick slower and tighten his handle, the playmaking and on-ball potential becomes much more real.

The Path Forward: Two-Way Terror in the Making

VJ Edgecombe’s ceiling is exactly what teams dream about late in the lottery: a two-way star who can smother opposing guards on one end and explode past them on the other. His body is NBA-ready, his motor is relentless, and the flashes of on-the-move shooting and shot creation suggest there’s still so much more to come.

Of course, he’s a bit of a project. The decision-making, the timing, the rhythm—it’s not all there yet. But the gap between what Edgecombe is and what he could become is exactly the kind of bet the Sixers needed to make.

Bottom Line

VJ Edgecombe gives the Philadelphia 76ers something they haven’t had in years: a guard with nuclear athleticism, defensive star potential, and the fire to compete at the highest level. He’s not a finished product. But if the jumper continues to stabilize and the handle sharpens, Philly just added a backcourt menace to pair with Maxey for the next decade.

Explosive. Tenacious. Raw. Dangerous. VJ Edgecombe might not be your typical Sixers pick—but he could be the most thrilling one in years.