VJ Edgecombe’s draft night quotes will make you love this Sixers pick

Regardless of where you stood going into last night, I think we can all agree the Sixers drafting a player and person like VJ Edgecombe is very refreshing, given everything we’ve been through.

Let me be clear right off the bat — Ace Bailey was No. 1 on my Sixers Big Board. The Sixers desperately needed a long, explosive wing who could play the 3 or 4 and bring some athletic chaos to the lineup. Bailey looked like that guy. But sometimes, all the talent in the world doesn’t mean jack if your head’s not screwed on straight.

From blowing off workouts, to trying to act like you’re some NBA superstar already, Ace Bailey is clearly lacking in maturity. And last night while all the lights and camera’s were on these young prospects, I walked away feeling like the Sixers not only dodged a bullet, but they got themselves a player we will all love here in Philly.

VJ Edgecombe shares emotional journey to the NBA

“The long nights… I lived off a generator for 7 years. I didn’t have electricity. To see what she had to go through just to feed us? Crazy.

"Seeing what she had to go through to feed us…"

V.J. Edgecombe's feeling all the emotions as he told @TaylorRooks he credits his mom for him getting drafted at No. 3 to the @sixers 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/Gjy9C3gRP5

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 26, 2025

Now that certainly sounds like somebody you want to get behind and root for right? Polar opposite of the Ben Simmons experience or even Ace Bailey if we want to give context into this current NBA Draft.

That’s real. That’s hunger. That’s perspective that is so very needed, especially in today’s social media world where there’s all this entitlement for some reason.

Now, moving forward VJ EdgeCombe had the opportunity to address some of his strengths and weaknesses, and this is where you can really get a feel for the type of person they are and the level of awareness a player has.

“I Just Hate to See Other People Score…”

“I hate to see other people score, man…. I just hate to see other people score…. I just do not like to see other people score.”

You can’t teach that. That mindset is exactly what this Sixers team has lacked for years — someone in the backcourt who takes defense personally.

And while many fans will question his fit with the surplus of guards the 76ers have, his ability to play up due to his athleticism and tenacity on defense will fit in just nicely with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.

The “Luxury Pick” Nonsense Has to Stop

Look — I get it. The Sixers’ backcourt isn’t exactly a barren wasteland. But if you’re one of the people out there whining about “overcrowding” and saying Edgecombe was a “luxury pick,” let me remind you what we just sat through:

384 minutes of Reggie Jackson

768 minutes of Eric Gordon

659 minutes of Kyle Lowry

621 minutes of Jeff Dowtin

Something else that’s notable about the Sixers rookie is that VJ Edgecombe set up a scholarship fund for kids from his hometown in the Bahamas with NIL money. Before ever playing an NBA game, he gave back. That tells you everything you need to know about the kind of person the Sixers just added to the locker room

So, I think it’s safe to say that VJ Edgecombe is impossible to dislike & will become a fan favorite in Philly. And while we didn’t draft the flashiest or even highest upside player, we got the right one for this Sixers squad. And honestly, given his athletic profile and work ethic, I don’t see how he can’t become an All-Star one day.

And that is all you can really ask for as a fan.

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