The Philadelphia 76ers tipped off their preseason on Thursday with a showcase game in Abu Dhabi, though they did so without several of their biggest names.
Joel Embiid, Paul George, Quentin Grimes, and Trendon Watford all sat out, which left the spotlight on the team’s younger players and bench contributors.
For fans, it was an early look at the depth of the roster and a chance to see how some of the new faces would perform.
One of the clear standouts was rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers’ third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The player turned in an impressive all-around performance, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
His athleticism and activity on both ends of the floor caught attention, and while he remains a developing prospect, he already appears capable of contributing at the NBA level.
As Tony Jones of The Athletic noted, Edgecombe “showed that at the very least, he’s already ready to be a rotation player.”
Jones went on to suggest that the rookie guard could even push for a starting role on opening night, pointing to flashes of star potential in his preseason debut.
In a separate report for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Keith Pompey highlighted how Edgecombe’s partnership with Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt offered a glimpse of what could become one of the NBA’s elite guard pairings in the future.
While it may take time for the chemistry to fully develop, Pompey stressed that the combination of Maxey’s established scoring ability and Edgecombe’s versatile skill set gives Philadelphia a backcourt with tremendous long-term upside.
For a preseason game, the Sixers may not have had their superstars on the floor, but Edgecombe’s emergence was enough to provide excitement and optimism about what’s ahead.
Sixers Notes: Grimes, Edgecombe, Barlow, Bona https://t.co/wua7QCkEDn pic.twitter.com/z3EMWFIBnv
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 4, 2025
