Nick Nurse in awe of VJ Edgecombe

Recovering VJ Edgecombe with the 3rd pick of the last draft, the Sixers they were hoping to bring fresh blood to an aging or injured back rotation, along with Tyrese Makeie. however, doubts about his dribbling during his time at Baylor could raise concerns about his impact, at least immediately, in the NBA…

And yet… during the final preseason match against the Wolves, the rookie took control of the game. literally.

Set as the first creator, VJ Edgecombe shone: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals in 34 minutes. It puts the spotlight on his potential as a primary ball carrier.

“We said, ‘OK, maybe he could play with the ball a little bit,’ and we talked about doing it in Summer League.”, Nick Nourse explained. “But from our point of view, I think he’s a lot further along than we thought, and he’s capable of doing it.”

“He really has a good feel for the game”

“VJ does a wonderful job of organizing them (the game). This is the hardest part of being a leader or a creator.”the coach added. “He’s calling systems, setting up his teammates and driving play action, which is great to see. He really has a good feel for the game.”

If he proves this ability to lead the offense, with the ball in hand, VJ Edgecombe could become a key link in the Sixers’ system, able to lighten the load on Tyrese Maxey and provide a real breath of fresh air to a team that will have to cope without Joel Embiid or Paul George for many games.

But is he really ready to take on this role as an offensive engine? The person in question doesn’t seem to doubt it for a second.

“I know I worked hard to get here. If I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t be here. I’m very confident. And my teammates give me confidence. I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but at the end of the day, it’s basketball. I try not to think too much. I love this sport. … Everything happens naturally. I’m just having fun.”

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