NBA fans had their eyes on the battle between LeBron James and the No. 1 draft pick, Cooper Flagg, on Sunday, April 5. After the game, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe ended up with an unexpected mention from the Los Angeles Lakers star.
Sitting at his locker after a Dallas Mavericks victory over the Lakers, LeBron James had some high praise for Flagg.
After 39 minutes of action, Flagg dropped 45 points against the Lakers and flirted with a triple-double by producing nine assists and coming down with eight rebounds.
Even before his masterclass, Flagg was deserving of the high praise that LeBron sent his way. Overall, the legendary forward is a big fan of the 2025 NBA Draft class, and Edgecombe is helping LeBron realize that the future of the league is in good hands.
What Did LeBron Say About The Sixers Rookie?
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – MARCH 23: LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after their loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
âItâs a great rookie class. You look at VJ in Philly. Look at Kon in Charlotte, you look at Dylan in San Antonio. Itâs a great rookie class. All those guys are making an impact on their respective teams. So, the league is in good hands,” James told reporters.
VJ Edgecombe became the Sixers’ third-overall pick out of Baylor.
After the Sixers got lucky and won the third pick, they were seemingly choosing between Ace Bailey and Edgecombe.
Even before the Bailey situation turned into self-sabotage during the pre-draft process, the Sixers were already high on Edgecombe due to his standout athleticism. Sure enough, the Sixers scooped him up.
Kon Knueppel (the selection after) might be the league’s Rookie of the Year favorite, but Edgecombe is living up to the top 3 hype, as he might just become a finalist.
VJ Edgecombe’s Year In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 20: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 20, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
It didn’t take long for Edgecombe to win a starting role with the Sixers.
On opening night against the Boston Celtics, the Sixers rolled out Edgecombe as a starter. His debut would last 42 minutes. The rookie scored 34 points (50.0% from the field), along with seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Since then, Edgecombe has started the following 70 games he played.
Heading into Monday’s Sixers-Spurs battle, Edgecombe is posting averages of 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. He is shooting 43.9% from the field and hitting on 35.8% of his shots from three.
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