Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe is counting down the days until his first matchup with LeBron James. The two are set to meet when the Sixers host the Los Angeles Lakers on December 7, marking a full-circle moment for the Bahamas native who grew up studying James’ game.
Edgecombe told DJ Siddiqi of RG that while he didn’t model his game after any single player, he took elements from several, with James standing out most. “Definitely picked pieces from people I grew up watching,” Edgecombe said. “I grew up watching D-Wade and obviously I watched LeBron. Even though I’m not 6-foot-8, but I learned a lot from him. That’s the main person.”
The 20-year-old guard, who was selected third overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, brings elite athleticism to Philadelphia. With a 38.5-inch vertical leap, Edgecombe’s explosiveness mirrors that of the stars he once admired. Yet he insists dunking was never his focus. “I’ve never really cared about dunking,” he said. “I’m just blessed with athleticism, to be honest. There was nobody where I wanted to say, ‘I want to dunk like him.’”
Edgecombe’s focus entering his rookie campaign is developing a consistent jumper and showcasing his all-around skill set. “I will say just being a versatile player,” he noted. “My playmaking is underrated. I think my defense is also up there.”
Defense remains his calling card, something he intends to display against elite talent across the league. “I feel like every night for me especially, I pride myself on defense,” Edgecombe said. “It’s going to be a good night. I’m definitely looking forward to all matchups, just because I know every night I’m going to have to guard a lot of great players, future Hall of Famers.”
Although he’ll never get the chance to face his childhood favorite Dwyane Wade, Edgecombe knows the Dec. 7 meeting with James will be special. “Definitely, definitely, it’s the inner child in me,” he said. “Someone that introduced the game to me and obviously the pedestals he is on.”
Still, the rookie’s competitive drive remains front and center. “I doubt I get a jersey swap,” he admitted. “I would definitely ask for one, but I’m competitive. At the end of the day, my main goal is to go there and win. We win, I’ll ask for the jersey. If we lose, I’m not asking.”
The Sixers guard has already shown flashes of potential in preseason play, averaging 12 points and 5 assists over two outings.
