Apr 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) controls the ball against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter of a play-in round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Apr 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) controls the ball against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter of a play-in round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
With just a few weeks to go until training camp, the Philadelphia 76ers are beginning early preparations for the upcoming season. After a slew of new additions, including LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Anfernee Simons, the team has a lot of work ahead to properly integrate everyone.
For his part, V.J. Edgecombe will surely have to sacrifice his role if he wants the best odds of success. But instead of showing animosity about his new reality, Edgecombe continues to show solidarity with his new teammates (some he helped recruit), expressing excitement to learn as he hones his skills behind the scenes.
“Every day there’s a bunch of reps, just know that knowing it’s a different situation. I’m just super excited to learn,” said Edgecombe, via Chris Hine. “Every day, I’ve been shooting the ball a lot. A lot of reps, that’s what I’ve been doing.”
With averages of 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game last season, Edgecombe flashed his All-Star potential and proved that he was capable of playing elite-level basketball. Even so, he continues to put in the work to develop his game and ensure a smooth transition for his team. According to V.J., the work has involved shooting drills and plenty of “reps” to keep him in shape during the summer.
Part of the process also includes connecting with new teammates, which Edgecombe has already done with James and Brown. He confirms that they have already been very helpful, praising their humble approach and approachable demeanor. For Edgecombe, he sees it as the ultimate learning opportunity that will only help him get better on the court.
“Our relationship has grown; we talked,” Edgecombe added. “I’ve asked him questions, just trying to learn a lot. Overall, it’s been great; we got to FaceTime a few times. I got on a call with [Jaylen Brown], and it’s great. I’m just learning, and they’re all down to earth. They’re not acting super big time, like they are. They’re really just a bunch of humble men. I’m just glad to be around them.”
It can take time for newly constructed juggernauts to be successful. In all of LeBron’s previous steps, it took at least one full season before he was able to lead them to a title, and it may be no different here. Plus, with so many challengers in the East, the road to victory is harder than ever, and the margin for error has never been slimmer.
Ultimately, we will have to wait and see how the 76ers stack up to the competition, but they have to be happy with where they currently stand. After a run to the East Semifinals last year, led by Maxey and Edgecombe, they are poised to be even better with their latest string of additions, but it all depends on how quickly the new roster is able to build chemistry together.
So far, the signs are looking good, and V.J. Edgecombe will be doing everything he can to ensure things keep trending in that direction for the 2026-27 season.