After trading for Jaylen Brown to pair alongside Tyrese Maxey, the Philadelphia 76ers now have two young, available superstars. But after adding LeBron James in the front court with Joel Embiid, they are bursting with star power.
Still, the most important piece of the puzzle might end up being VJ Edgecombe. After a spectacular rookie season, the expectations are through the roof for what he can achieve in his second year. And the early signs are promising, especially with his adoration for his new teammate.
76ers’ VJ Edgecombe Recalls Being Starstruck By LeBron James
The 76ers are truly entering a new era of the franchise. After more than a decade of “The Process,” they have seen multiple iterations of the same story.
This offseason, though, has been a rousing success for the organization.
With the addition of Brown and James, they have a starting five that has at least four perennial All-NBA candidates in the mix. Yet, as we’ve seen multiple times in the league, glue guys will be vital to the roster.
That’s where Edgecombe comes in. After an impressive rookie season, where he averaged 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, the sky is the limit for the youngster. But given the talent on the roster, his role could be severely diminished next year.
So far, though, he remains excited about the prospect of teaming up with one of his basketball idols. In a conversation with Overtime, Edgecombe revealed his feelings about interacting with James via FaceTime.
“I was in disbelief, but I had to act cool. I had to act like I’d been there before. I’m on the phone all cool and stuff. My headphones on, I’m playing the game. Had to act all cool, but it’s really Bron. I was really geekin’ I ain’t gone lie.”
That mentality could work in the 76ers’ favor, as, going into his second season, the Baylor product might be more open to sacrificing for the greater good of the team.
Moreover, the addition of James specifically could help in that regard.
Earlier in the summer, Edgecombe outright 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.”
Now having the opportunity to share the court and locker room with the four-time NBA champion could be an unbelievable experience for the youngster.
But it could also be the perfect recipe for the 76ers to emerge as a true contender in the East.
