Bahamian professional basketball player Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe Jr. and the Philadelphia 76ers experienced an anti-climatic ending to their season, falling to the New York Knicks, 144-114, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. With the loss, Edgecombe and the Sixers were swept in the best-of-seven series four games to none.
Edgecombe had an off day on Sunday, but was respectable in the series, and spectacular all season long.
He ends what has been has been one of the most inspiring and productive rookie seasons in Philadelphia 76ers’ history in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Edgecombe averaged 12 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and one steal per game in the series, while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 26.1 percent from three-point range. On Sunday, he was limited to just eight points, but added six rebounds and seven assists. He connected on just four of his 14 shot attempts and was 0-for-6 from three-point range.
The Knicks and Sixers split the season series at two games apiece, but their matchup in the playoffs was a different story. The Knicks dominated, winning by an average of 22.25 points in the series, and will now move on to face the winner of the series between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Edgecombe broke a number of rookie records for the Sixers this year, and wrapped up the regular season finishing third in the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Race.
Edgecombe ended the regular season averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from three-point range. He started 75 of 75 games played.
Edgecombe went on to average 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and one steal per game in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics, shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from three-point range.
Edgecombe was a key factor in the Sixers taking down the favored Celtics in their first-round series, winning in seven games.
The 20-year-old Bahamian star guard had an amazing first season in the NBA.
Edgecombe’s 34 points in their season opener was the most points ever by a Sixers’ player in a debut performance, surpassing Allen Iverson’s 30 points in 1996, and the third most ever by any player in an NBA debut.
Edgecombe also became the first player in NBA history with 30-plus points and five or more three-pointers in an NBA debut.
He helped lead the 76ers to a 111-97 game two victory against the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, scoring 30 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, collecting two assists and two steals. He is the youngest player ever to have 30 points and 10 rebounds in an NBA playoff game, and in game seven of that series, he became the first rookie to record 20-plus points, have five or more rebounds, and five or more three-pointers in a game seven.
Drafted third overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Edgecombe immediately exceeded expectations, and turned one of the more impressive first seasons in NBA history.