Who is the rookie to watch in this class again?
VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick of the Philadelphia 76ers, scored 34 points in his NBA debut, the third most all time in league history (and the most since Wilt Chamberlain) in a mind-bending performance.
“We certainly needed the offense, and he certainly just looked pretty comfortable out there,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said after the game. “Again, I think that’s probably one thing I’ve noticed the most about him, is he seems to really know what’s going on out there for a young player. You just don’t see him making silly mistakes, or many mistakes. He is just playing the right way. He’s got a very good feel for the game.
“That’s pretty cool, though. That’s a neat list to get on.”
Edgecombe came out of the gate hot and scored 14 points in the first quarter, an NBA record.
For the night, Edgecombe scored 34 points on 50% shooting, going 13-of-26, and he was 5-of-13 (38.5%) from 3-point range. He also had seven rebounds and three assists.
It wasn’t a perfect night. Edgecombe was fouled with 7.3 seconds left and the 76ers up one, but he missed both free throws, which cracked the door open for the Celtics. Fortunately for the 76ers, Payton Pritchard missed two attempts in the final seconds and Philadelphia escaped with the win.
That win came courtesy of Tyrese Maxey, who had 40 points and six assists on the night. Joel Embiid started, played 20 minutes, but was 1-of-9 from the floor and had 14 points.
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