Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe has already made an impression during his first NBA season, but when asked about the greatest player of all time, the 20-year-old did not hesitate with his answer.
Speaking with HoopsHype, Edgecombe named LeBron James as his GOAT and pointed to one factor above all others: longevity.
“You have the longevity of LeBron’s career, and that’s why I say he’s my GOAT, just because of his longevity, you know, sustaining, staying there at a high level throughout the whole time. Yeah, that’s why. That’s why he’s my GOAT,” Edgecombe said.
The comment carries extra weight coming from one of the league’s most promising young guards. Edgecombe completed his rookie season with the Sixers averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals across 75 starts while earning a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.
His emergence helped Philadelphia reach the Play-In Tournament after finishing 45-37 during the 2025-26 regular season. The rookie quickly established himself as one of the franchise’s foundational pieces moving forward.
Edgecombe’s reasoning reflects one of the strongest arguments often made in favor of James in the GOAT debate. While discussions frequently center on championships, peak performance or individual awards, the Lakers star has built a résumé defined by elite production across more than two decades.
James entered the NBA as an 18-year-old in 2003 and is still producing at an All-Star level at age 41. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games for a Los Angeles Lakers team that finished 53-29 and secured the Pacific Division title.
The veteran forward’s consistency over 23 NBA seasons remains unprecedented. Across his career, James has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists while appearing in 1,622 regular-season games. He has earned four MVP awards, four NBA championships and continued adding to his legacy deep into his 40s.
