Who is VJ Edgecombe, the Philadelphia 76ers' first pick in the 2025 NBA draft?
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday night.
Edgecombe, the high-flying athletic guard, was named the Big 12 freshman of the year after one season at Baylor. He averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals last season for the Bears.
Edgecombe said the feeling of getting drafted is "surreal" and that he's ready to get to work with his new team.
"It's the NBA, they're not going to promise you nothing," Edgecombe said. "You have to go in there and fight for your job. And I'm going to go in there, and whatever coach needs me to do, I'm going to go do. That's it. Whatever coach needs me to do, I'm going to do. If it requires me coming off the bench, if it requires me starting, playing alongside both [Tyrese] Maxey and [Jared] McCain, playing with one of them at the same time, I mean, it don't matter. I'm just going there to play. Whatever coach [Nick] Nurse need me to do, I'm going to go do it."
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said they view Edgecombe as a potential All-Star, but also asked the Philly fanbase to be patient.
"I will ask our fanbase, early returns can get magnified, I do think, this is a man's league," Morey said. "He's strong and physical, so I think he'll adjust quicker than most draft picks, but they take a little time sometimes, but we're really excited about him."
Entering the draft, Edgecombe was the favorite to land in Philadelphia and the only known draft prospect to visit the Sixers for a workout and interview. Edgecombe "appeared nervous" during his workout, , but that didn't stop the Sixers from selecting the 6-foot-4 guard with plenty of upside. He reportedly impressed the Sixers in interviews during the visit despite appearing nervous during the workout.
Morey said he doesn't put much stock into the workouts held with teams before the draft.
"I do like having dinner with the guys, I do like getting to know them better," Morey said. "It's different reading all the reports that our scouts file and coaches give us and everything. And then meeting someone, I think that is beneficial."
"If you can put them in a competitive setting, that might be something, but that's not something that happens at high picks," he added. "Not a big part of the process, but we did love having him in, having dinner with him and things like that."
The Sixers picked Edgecombe over prospects like Texas guard Tre Johnson, Rutgers wing Ace Bailey and Duke forward Kon Knueppel.
Before the draft, Morey said they initially had six potential targets at No. 3 overall, then four and ultimately decided to select Edgecombe.
Edgecombe adds depth to the Sixers' backcourt that's headlined by Maxey, along with McCain. The Sixers bringing back guard Quentin Grimes, who is a restricted free agent, is also a "priority," .
"I really like how things are shaping up," Morey said. "I think we'll have one of the best backcourts in the league with Grimes and Maxey and Jared McCain and now VJ, so I do think with the way the NBA is going, I think you saw some of these teams playing dynamic, up-tempo with multiple guards that put the defense in jeopardy."
Edgecombe's athleticism and high motor will likely lead to him contributing right away on the defensive side of the ball. He can also be a lob threat in transition and his 3-point shot should translate. Last season, he shot 34% on 3-pointers overall, and connected on his 36.3% of his catch-and-shoot treys.
According draft analysts, Edgecombe's ball-handling and playmaking will need to develop at the next level.
Edgecombe, a Bimini, Bahamas, native, played for the Bahamian National Team, which included NBA players like Buddy Hield and DeAndre Ayton, in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament before his freshman season at Baylor. In the games, Edgecombe impressed and averaged 16.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals in four games.
In high school, Edgecombe was a five-star recruit and played at Victory International Institute in Florida for two years before transferring to Long Island Lutheran in New York.
In his junior season, Edgecombe won a state championship and was named the New York Gatorade Player of the Year and the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Player of the Year. He was a McDonald's All-American as a senior at Long Island Lutheran.
The Sixers also hold the No. 35 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft. Philadelphia jumped two spots in the draft lottery in May to keeps its pick away from the Oklahoma City Thunder and select Edgecombe.
