VJ Edgecombe is making rookie history even LeBron James couldn’t match
Let me say VJ Edgecombe’s rookie debut with the Philadelphia 76ers was impressive, might actually be an understatement.
Taking judgment as Nick Nurse is the starting quarterback sandwiched between Tyrese Maxey on the one and Kelly Aubrey on the three — with Quinton Grimes interestingly coming off the bench — Edgecombe had a first quarter for all the fans in Boston and beyond, scoring 14 points, including 10 straight, to help the 76ers fight back to within two points.
Now, for a player who was thought to only score 14 points in a game, putting up that many buckets, including a trio of 3-pointers, is pretty impressive, isn’t it? Even in the 80-year history of the NBA? Well, it’s not just impressive; it was historic, as no rookie had ever scored 14 in the first quarter in NBA history until Edgecombe scored, with the tied LeBron James falling two points short of the impressive mark.
Most points by a rookie in the first quarter of his NBA debut 👀
14 — VJ EDGECOMBE (TONIGHT)
12 — LeBron James (2003) https://t.co/ki9KGptFdv— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 23, 2025
Controversially drafted third overall while Ace Bailey was still on the board, some fans openly questioned whether Daryl Morey and company made a mistake by selecting the Baylor Bears over the Rutgers product after he lit things up for the Utah Jazz in the NBA preseason. And yet, after a game in which he literally did it all, guarding Jaylon Brown, dunking and shooting about as many 3-pointers as he attempted in college — hyperbole, but not much — it’s safe to assume the tide has completely turned the other way, as the 76ers look like they could have another Rookie of the Year candidate after just one playoff candidate.
Can Edgecombe maintain this success going forward? It’s hard to say, but for the foreseeable future, all rookie NBA debuts will be compared to No. 77, with his 14 points, a new high for current success.
2025-10-23 01:30:00
