76ers nation, all those fears were for naught. Whoever thought this team was sputtering with injured stars have a new one. VJ Edgecombe proved he’s the unexpected surprise no one saw coming. Where most NBA vets didn’t see the 20-year-old getting much minutes in his rookie season, he made every minutes of his NBA debut count. He added 34 points  to the Sixers’ 117-116 victory over the Celtics. But what’s better, he may have secured himself more time on the court.

Edgecombe impressed the guy who decides his minutes, aka the head coach, Nick Nurse. After the game, he had a positive outlook on the season thanks to the rook.

“Seemed like there was opportunities for him. Yeah, I think he just he took some drives. I think again there’s certainly a great start, but you just know there’s like tons of room, different things he needs to do,” Nurse said after the game. He’s already hinting that we’re going to see more of Edgecombe and what he expected from him.

“I’d like him to be a little more aggressive in the open floor. I think he’s really got that in his game. I think he can take it to some spots inside the three-point line and vault up and score. Probably saw a couple of those that he missed.  things like that. But, but that’s an amazing first game performance.”

Sounds like he’s cautious about not giving the rookie a big head till Nurse was informed at the presser that Edgecombe’s 34 are the third highest for NBA debuts all time after Wilt Chamberlain (43 in 1959) and Frank Selvy (35 in 1954). He called it, “pretty good,” and felt more open about praising the youngster.

“He has a good motor, right? We played a ton of minutes. That helps. We need We certainly needed the offense, right? And he certainly just looked pretty comfortable out there. He looked again, I think that’s probably one thing I’ve noticed the most about him is he seems to really know what’s going on out there for a young player, right? You just don’t see him making silly mistakes or many mistakes. He’s just playing the right way. He’s got a very good feel for the game. So, that’s pretty cool, though. That’s a neat list to get on.”

So the newbie has secured his job on the first day. What’s more. He’s got the other team impressed too.

Celtics had no answer for VJ Edgecombe

The Celtics are just as shorthanded on the starpower without Jayson Tatum and since the Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis trades. But they weren’t discounted as the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and Paul George. Most didn’t think that with the burden falling on Tyrese Maxey, the rookie would get any minutes at all.

Edgecombe not only got 34 minutes, his first 14 points is the most ever for any player’s first NBA quarter. The last record-holder for that was LeBron James in 2003. Edgecombe wasn’t even born then. Who thought the third overall pick of 2025 would make history this quicky?

Even the Celtics coach, Joe Mazzulla was asked if he was prepared to see the rookie outperform at that level. “He’s obviously a really good player,” Mazulla said. “He scored… hit five threes, got to the free throw line a little bit, but got a lot in transition and he’s just a good player. So it’s a credit to them and, you know, when we play them, we have to be better at defending them.”

Tyrese Maxey loved that VJ was “confident” but ribbed him for missing two free throws. Right now, Edgecombe is overwhelmed just being in the same list as LeBron James. Being in that category now gives Cooper Flagg some tough competition for that ROTY title.