Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard V.J. Edgecombe has officially been named a 2026 NBA Rising Star alongside fellow top rookies like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson, and others.
VJ Edgecombe has had a great rookie campaign in Philadelphia. The team originally selected the Baylor product with the third overall pick, and he has rewarded them well. Through 40 games this season, Edgecombe is averaging 15.6 points. 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals a night for the Sixers. He currently ranks in the top 10 in each of those categories among all rookies, highlighting his versatile skillset.
The 20-year-old guard exploded onto the scene for the Sixers, scoring 34 points in his season debut against the Boston Celtics. While he has cooled down since then, scoring 25 or more points only twice in January, he remains the single most clutch rookie in his class. According to NBA stats, Edgecombe is shooting a ridiculous 55.8% from the field in clutch situations this season, leading all other rookies (minimum of 5 attempts). He’s also shooting a rookie leading 54.5% from three as well (minimum of 10 attempts).
While the Sixers' season has been far from perfect so far, V.J. Edgecombe, nicknamed “The Generator,” has been one of the best and brightest young stars in his class, and the NBA has taken note. His high-flying dunks and lockdown defense, combined with his endless drive, make Edgecombe an absolute slam dunk addition to the Rising Stars game.
The NBA Rising Stars will take place on Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. Eastern. It will feature three teams: The NBA Sophomores, the NBA Rookies and the NBA G League. The Sophomores will consist of 11 players, including Alex Sarr, Matas Buzelis, and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
The Rookies will be headlined by the top four picks of the 2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel. The G-League will feature a variety of player backgrounds, including Ron Harper Jr., a 2022 undrafted rookie, and Yang Hansen, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
