On Oct. 21, the opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ #77 dominated the conversations after his 43-point performance. Less than 24 hours later, another #77 took over the NBA landscape.
Philadelphia 76ers VJ Edgecombe not only contributed to a 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics. And with his dominant 34-point performance, toppled some of the sport’s slatwarts. No wonder the NBA fans are losing their mind over the former Baylor standout.
VJ Edgecombe Sparks ‘ROTY’ Chants With His Dominant Performance
Edgecombe sparked conversations ever since his draft night when he was surprisingly picked despite Ace Bailey being on the board. Many had wondered if going with him was the right call instead of the Rutgers standout. But, after just one night, it looks like Daryl Morey and Co. might have landed a Rookie of the Year candidate with them. And the story started right from the first quarter.
Edgecombe took the court as the 76ers’ starting shooting guard alongside Tyrese Maxey at one and Kelly Oubre at the three. With Quentin Grimes coming off the bench, the rookie was tasked with everything from shooting to guarding the likes of Jaylen Brown. And the rookie did deliver a first quarter to remember for ages: 14/0/2 on 5/9 from the field and 3/6 from 3. In one stretch of that quarter, he scored 10 straight points for the 76ers.
That was good enough to get past LeBron James to etch his name as the highest scoring debut quarter by a rookie in the league’s 80-year history. The Lakers legend scored 12 points in the first quarter of his debut NBA game on Oct. 29, 2003, against the Sacramento Kings.
But Edgecombe’s record-breaking spree did not just stop there. Here is what he eventually picked up through the night:
- 34 points
- 13-of-26 FG
- 5-of-13 from 3-point range
- 3-of-6 from the free throw line
- 7 rebounds
- 3 assists
- 1 steal
And that brought a few more trips to the history books. He broke Allen Iverson’s franchise record for most points in an NBA debut (Iverson scored 30 points on November 1, 1996, in his debut against the Milwaukee Bucks). Not only that, during the game, the NBA announced that Edgecombe had just made modern league history, scoring the most points in an NBA debut this century. Understandably, the fans started the “ROTY” chants early.
“Just give him the ROTY already bro 😭,” a user demanded.
“ROTY 🤩🤩🤩,” wrote another.
Entering the NBA, one concern with Edgecombe was his outside shot. While one game may be too early for a verdict, five of his 13 3s definitely pulled off a positive picture on that front. He played with confidence and poise well beyond his years. His aggressive shot selection and efficient finishing made it clear: he’s not just another rookie trying to find his place.
One user aptly pointed out, “He is him! 🔥🔥”, while another noted, “Philly Got Another Star in the making.”
Meanwhile, the dreams of a future dynasty also popped up with the 20-year-old’s domination. “Future superstar, let’s get aj/ boozer/ or Daryn and we a future dynasty,” one user added.
76ers’ Rookie Is in Good Company
They are not wrong because Edgecombe has already found a spot among the legends. With his 34-point explosion, Edgecombe now ranks third all-time for the most points scored in an NBA debut. Only two legends — Wilt Chamberlain and Frank Selvy — have ever scored more in their first professional game.
Most Points in an NBA Debut:
- Wilt Chamberlain – 43 points (1959)
- Frank Selvy – 35 points (1954)
- VJ Edgecombe – 34 points (2025)
- Maurice Stokes – 32 points (1955)
- John Drew – 32 points (1974)
While Chamberlain’s 43 came with the Philadelphia Warriors before their move to Golden State, Edgecombe’s 34 points marked a new milestone for the modern Sixers era.
No rookie had scored 32 or more points in their debut since John Drew in 1974, making Edgecombe’s feat a historic rarity. For comparison, the highest debut scoring mark in the 21st century belonged to Gordan Giricek, who tallied 29 points in 2002.
Edgecombe and the Sixers will face the Charlotte Hornets in their next game on Oct. 25 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
