Multiple 76ers again left impressed by VJ Edgecombe in win over Knicks

6 days ago 2

NEW YORK -- Once again, Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe stepped up to the biggest stage and produced at a high level. Playing in his second game at Madison Square Garden, the rookie had 26 points in a 130-119 win over the New York Knicks.

This is the second time Edgecombe has showed up at the world's most famous arena and put on a show. On Dec. 19, he had 23 points while harassing Knicks star Jalen Brunson. He produced on he big stage and once again left his teammates impressed.

"He's built for the big stage," Paul George said of his rookie teammate. "No better stage, obviously, playing in this iconic arena. It’s the second time he’s performed on this stage. So, that's what you want to see. That's what you want to see. Somebody that is ready at his age, his confidence, just maturity. It’s elite. It's definitely elite."

It's been tough to come up with more superlatives to describe how good Edgecombe has been. The way this young rookie out of Baylor has stepped in and just immediately given the Sixers whatever they need on either end of the floor is something that his teammates have been left impressed by.

"You don't have to try to make anything up," added Tyrese Maxey. "He's just good. He's good. Like, you saying, like, you’re running out of, like, excuses. Like, man, he's good this game. Then he’s good the next game, and he good the next game. It’s just like, maybe at what point you just say he’s just good?"

With that being said, though, it's extremely rare for a 20-year-old to just step into the NBA and play with this much poise. He mixes speeds on the offensive end as if he's been in the league for 10 years. The way he can slow things down, analyze the situation, and then attack is something that some players don't ever develop. Edgecombe has mastered it in 30 games.

Still, Maxey isn't surprised.

"For him? No, but for a rookie? Yeah," Maxey added. "I think it was a play. We got a fast break. He had a one-on-one with KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns). He slowed all the way down, didn't take it. gave it to Joel (Embiid). Joel had Mikal (Bridges) on him. Joel scored in the post, like, and I was telling TWatt (Trendon Watford) on the bench. I'm like, dude, like that play. It's a simple play, but, like, that's, like, that's so mature. For a 20-year-old to do that? That's big time."

It appears that Edgecombe is part of a new wave of players who have just mastered how to play this game at such a high level. He along with recent rookies such as San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg--as examples--have just been able to make a big impact on the floor like Edgecombe has.

"I think it's pretty rare," added coach Nick Nurse. "I think that people would ask about Wemby his rookie season, and that's one thing I just kept, he just keeps playing. Cooper Flagg does it. It’s pretty rare, but I think these guys, some of these guys are that good and really believe in what they're going to do and, know it's a lot of minutes, a lot of games, long season, all that stuff, and they just got to keep playing."

The Sixers will continue their season with a return home on Monday when they play host to the Denver Nuggets.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Multiple 76ers again left impressed by VJ Edgecombe in win over Knicks

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