Bahamian DeAndre Ayton remains on a hot streak for the Los Angeles Lakers, still shooting over 70 percent on the season, and other Bahamians are making significant contributions to their teams as well.
In their latest outing, against Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers, Ayton was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor, finishing with 14 points and adding 12 rebounds in a 112-108 win for the Lakers in National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season action at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
For the Lakers’ starting center, it was his second double-double, and fifth double-digit scoring game since missing a game against their crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers due to a right knee contusion.
Starting for the Sixers, Bahamian rookie guard Edgecombe had a strong performance as well, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting from the field, and adding five rebounds and three assists. Two games prior, he had 10 points, including a game-winner, and added six rebounds and five assists against another Bahamian in the NBA, Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield, and the Golden State Warriors.
It was his first time meeting up with Ayton and Hield as professionals.
Ayton said afterwards that he’s extremely proud of the 20-year-old Edgecombe and what he has done in a short period of time as a professional basketball player.
“That’s my guy. That’s a younger guy who was watching me and Buddy Hield. He’s another Bahamian doing his thing. It’s his turn, not his turn tonight, but it was his turn to show that he finally hit the limelight, and he’s gonna represent The Bahamas the best way he can,” said Ayton to reporters afterwards. “He definitely put on a show. It was definitely fun to see him in an NBA jersey. ... I was just with him in the summer, and seeing how he has developed with the three-point shot already and how he is handling the ball ... I just admire how his teammates and his vets look out for him. They have a dog – sharing the court with him, and just seeing how he is moving as a big guard, I love it. ... He’s an energy type of guy. It’s going to be fun to watch him for the rest of the season. Keep an eye out for him.”
Hield was there for Edgecombe from day one – showing support on draft night and crediting his national squad teammate for his quick rise to the pros and living up to the hype so far.
Edgecombe was drafted third overall out of Baylor University in the 2025 NBA Draft. He is averaging 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 41.4 from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range. Edgecombe has started 20 of 20 games played for the Sixers this season.
Ayton, now in his eighth year and with his third team, at 27 years old, is averaging 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 70.6 from the field. He is second in the league in field goal percentage, trailing just Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves who is at 73.4 percent from the field. Ayton has started 21 of 21 games played for the Lakers this season.
Hield got his first two starting assignments of the season over the weekend, and has played all 25 games for the Warriors this year. In fact, the Bahamian veteran guard, known as the NBA iron man, hasn’t missed a regular season game in nearly three years, including an NBA record 84 regular season games between two teams in the 2023-2024 season.
Hield, now 32 in his 10th season and with his fifth team, is averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 40.4 from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range.
In his two starts over the weekend, Hield had 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while shooting 4-for-9 from the field and 3-for-6 from deep, in a 99-94 victory for the Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday; and nine points, seven rebounds and one assist, while shooting 4-for-10 from the field and 1-for-5 from three-point range, in a resounding 123-91 victory for the Warriors over the Chicago Bulls, in the second night of a back-to-back, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday.
As for his first professional outings against Ayton and Hield, Edgecombe said it was great catching up with his fellow national squad teammates, and he looks forward to more matchups in the future.
All three represented The Bahamas at the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Olympic Qualifier in Valencia, Spain, last year.
Ayton and the Lakers will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting the San Antonio Spurs at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. That game gets underway at 10 p.m.
Edgecombe and Hield will both be back in action on Friday.
Edgecombe and the Sixers host the Indiana Pacers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Friday. That game gets underway at 7 p.m.
Hield and the Warriors host the Timberwolves at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on Friday. That game gets underway at 10 p.m.
Ayton and the Lakers are tied for second in the Western Conference of the NBA, with the Denver Nuggets, with a 17-6 win/loss record. Edgecombe and the Sixers are seventh in the east with a 13-10 record, and Hield and the Warriors are 13-12 and are eighth in the west.