After nearly a month of speculation, LeBron James finally came to a decision. After confirming he would not be continuing with the Los Angeles Lakers, his recruitment sparked a true frenzy among various contenders.
Finally, the Philadelphia 76ers, fresh off trading for Jaylen Brown, became his landing spot for what is likely going to be his final stop in the NBA. But even as the scene turned euphoric for the city, VJ Edgecombe believed he’d been purposefully kept in the dark.
VJ Edgecombe Has a Bone to Pick With Tyrese Maxey About LeBron James
Speaking to Chiney Ogwumike on “Chiney Today,” he revealed he wasn’t yet familiar with the four-time NBA champion.
“I ain’t know LeBron. I love LeBron, don’t get me wrong. I just never, like, I’ve met him. Obviously, we’ve played against each other.”
Going a step further, Edgecombe confessed, “Obviously, that is the guy I looked up to when it comes to basketball, so far that, that’s one of the reasons I started playing ball when he was in Miami.”
As a result, he tried to use Tyrese Maxey to get any information about James’ decision.
Maxey, who is also represented by Klutch Sports and has a close, personal relationship with the former Cleveland Cavaliers star, was among the biggest driving forces for landing James in Philly. Unfortunately, he did not keep Edgecombe privy to the entire discussion.
“I keep calling Tyrese. I was all like, ‘Are we getting Bron? Are we getting Bron?’ And Tyrese was like, ‘Bro, I don’t know. I don’t think so.’ But he knew the whole time, but he didn’t wanna tell me. That’s what I feel.”
While Maxey is yet o clarify his stance on the matter, for a team that will need to maximize its depth over the course of the season, potentially alienating one of its key young players might not be the best way to go about it.
With the injury concerns for Joel Embiid, the 76ers quietly ushered in a new era with Maxey at the helm. As the superstar guard continued to show improvement, they added another running mate in the form of Edgecombe.
Last season, they were the two main forces keeping the team afloat, as both Paul George and Embiid combined for fewer than 82 games. Maxey, who earned an All-NBA nod for his efforts, averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists for the season.
Edgecombe, even as a rookie, had a very complete campaign, putting up 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. But as the joy of the four-time champion joining the roster has settled down, his role is a lot more complicated than everybody else’s.
He’s either the odd man out or the most important piece, depending on someone’s perspective. With the allure of James, an MVP in Embiid, and the two best players on the roster in Maxey and Brown, Edgecombe could potentially get lost in the shuffle.
However, with the team’s need for glue guys and role players, he could also be the most important member of the starting lineup.
