Sixers select VJ Edgecombe with third overall pick in 2025 NBA draft

With the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe, a 6-foot-4 wing out of Baylor.

Edgecombe has commonly been regarded as one of the four best prospects in the class, although evaluators typically ranked Rutgers wing Ace Bailey as the third best prospect in the 2025 draft.

Of course, Bailey's camp cancelled his pre-draft workout with Philadelphia as part of its strategy to guide the 18-year-old toward teams that will offer him more on-ball opportunity early in his career.

There had been buzz linking several other prospects - including Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel - to the Sixers. But Philadelphia ultimately aligned with the expectations many had for the Sixers, landing on Edgecombe.

You can find a full scouting report on Edgecombe's freshman season at Baylor here.

Edgecombe averaged 15 points, six rebounds and an assist-to-turnover ratio of about 1.5:1 under Scott Drew's leadership at Waco, Texas.

Edgecombe's defensive playmaking and athleticism planted him firmly in the top of the first round of the draft as the college season went on. Still, his on-ball defense needs improvement, and his offensive game needs quite a bit of development.

Edgecombe comes to Philadelphia with a workable jumper (34 percent from three at Baylor; 36.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, per Sam Vecenie). that will help him space around the current tentpoles of the halfcourt offense. But, early in his career, his gifts will revolve around wrecking the opposition on defense:

Not only will Edgecombe terrorize teams as a catalyst in transition, but he'll blow up possessions with swarming halfcourt defense:

Edgecombe weaponizes his length (6-foot-7.5 wingspan, 8-foot-5.5 standing reach) to punish offenses. But his ceiling will hinge on the other end of the floor. While he's already a more advanced shooter than defensive stalwarts Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle were during their times in Philadelphia, Edgecombe has to turn several variables into proven skills on offense.

The good news is he has a base of functional athleticism. He can jump with the trees, and knows how to make that gift play on both sides of the ball. While he's not much of a playmaker at this juncture, Edgecombe is comfortable making some passing reads - both moving and standing still. He's got a ways to go as a ball-handler. His finishing needs some smoothing over. His offensive creation frankly needs to be built up.

But Edgecombe optimists will point to Victor Oladipo and Dwyane Wade having similar freshman seasons of college as indicators of what he could be if he achieves his 100th percentile outcome.

There is a fascinating subplot that gives Edgecombe some good mystery. Before his lone season at Baylor, he starred for the Bahamas in the Olympic qualifier games.

On a team that featured Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield, Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.65:1. He shot 38.5 percent from three on 13 attempts. You wouldn't consider that volume to be even remotely meaningful for a confident evaluation of a player, but he appeared competent from deep on a professional stage.

The part that is actually fascinating is that the spacing in that environment appeared to unlock some of Edgecombe's offensive prowess:

Edgecombe shot 65.5 percent on twos for the Bahamas, a significant jump in efficiency compared to his showing at Baylor. Again, the volume is not comparable. But the point is that he looked like he belonged on a court with other professionals. In fact, perhaps having teammates who were pros offered evidence that his offensive game is better than what he could show on a cramped floor in college.

Time will tell whether this selection represents a home run or a strikeout for Philadelphia. But once it became apparent that Bailey did not want to land in Philadelphia, you didn't need conventional sourcing to get an idea of where the Sixers' heads might be.

Not only did Edgecombe reportedly impress in his interviews with the Sixers, but he is known for embodying what Philadelphia has come to value in the draft: work ethic.

Tyrese Maxey, who was present for Edgecombe's pre-draft time in Philadelphia, has lodged himself as a fan favorite and cornerstone of the franchise by rising from late first-round pick to All-Star. While many would argue that Maxey would've gone higher in the first round if COVID hadn't caused an irregular evaluation process in 2020, his exponential leap has been credited to a superior work ethic.

The selection of Jared McCain in last summer's draft reinforced that value to Philadelphia. McCain was lauded for his work ethic coming out of Duke, and eventually was the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year before a torn meniscus ended his first season in Philadelphia early.

Not only has Edgecombe consistently put his heart and mentality on tape, but his work ethic has received rave reviews.

That hunger has mined the Sixers a pair of young guards that offer hope for the future.

Now, they're betting that Edgecombe can hold his own as part of the foundation bridging this era to the next one.