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Tag: VJ Edgecombe

  • Five things that have kept the Sixers in the LeBron James sweepstakes

    Five things that have kept the Sixers in the LeBron James sweepstakes

    The 76ers are reportedly among LeBron James’ top three preferred free-agency destinations as teams continue to court him deep into the summer. The other options are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    Meanwhile, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has deep Ohio ties, said the pendulum appears to be swinging toward the Cavaliers, but the Sixers and several other NBA franchises are not counting themselves out.

    How do the Sixers stack up as a LeBron James destination? Breaking down his reported top 3 contenders.

    So you’re telling the Sixers there’s still a chance? They’ve been here before, vying for James’ services most recently in 2018 as he considered teaming up with a young Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Now the Sixers once again have an attractive roster centered around Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.

    It could be a while before we learn James’ final decision, but here are five things that make the Sixers attractive to the 41-year old.

    LeBron’s quest for a new challenge

    James has done all there is to accomplish in basketball. He has four NBA titles, 10 Finals appearances and he owned the Eastern Conference for a decade. And there’s even lore surrounding those titles, as he brought one championship to his home state and resurrected franchises in Miami and Los Angeles.

    He holds the NBA’s all-time record for scoring, minutes played, games played, and more. All-time greats in sports are constantly looking for new challenges, and James is running out of options. So if he’s looking for a place to retire, the Cavaliers hold the sentimental edge and Florida is the retirement capital of the country. But only the Sixers offer new territory.

    Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid battled in last year’s first-round series between the Celtics and Sixers.

    The Jaylen Brown trade

    Prior to the Brown trade, folks in Philly saw James’ departure from the Lakers on the news ticker and kept moving along. The addition of Brown created a potential starting lineup of Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and Embiid. And while Dean Wade was a great free-agency addition, James could look at that lineup and slot himself in at power forward and see a real title contender. That’s the moment “everything changed” for the Sixers’ chances of landing James, according to James’ agent and Klutch Sports owner Rich Paul.

    The Eastern Conference has also presented a level of parity that could benefit the Sixers. While the East has won two of the last three titles, no team has made a repeat Finals appearance since James’ Cavaliers made it four straight times. Brown’s Celtics made the Finals in 2022 and won in 2024 and he knows how to get back. Famously, the Sixers haven’t made it past the second round since 2001, but it’s a notch in their belt to have someone who understands that process.

    Tyrese Maxey’s Klutch ties and infectious personality

    Maxey’s rise continues. Originally selected with the 21st pick out of Kentucky in 2020, Maxey had to wait his turn for the Sixers. He played behind Simmons and competed with Shake Milton for minutes. But once given a full-time role, Maxey’s star took off. He became a starter, then an All-Star and then an All-NBA performer. Now, Maxey is one of the pillars of the Sixers’ pitch to James after averaging 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists and leading the Sixers to the postseason.

    Brad Stevens says he would rather have not traded Jaylen Brown to Philly, but the Celtics did what they had to do

    There’s also the personality piece, because Maxey’s infectious persona and work ethic have been lauded by everyone in the Sixers’ organization. And, of course, as Klutch Sports clients with deep ties to Paul, James is familiar with both sides of Maxey. And Paul has repeatedly said that James “loves” Maxey.

    The greatness of peak Joel Embiid

    That it took this long to get to Embiid should say something about the state of things. Embiid played only 38 games last season and called that a success because he learned more about managing his knee that could benefit the Sixers going forward. Of course, it was to some extent because he played only 19 games the year before because of knee surgery. And when available, Embiid was exceptional in 2025-26, including a stretch where he looked like his old MVP self. He averaged 26.9 points on 48.9% shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 38 games.

    Then, when he appeared primed for a healthy postseason, Embiid was diagnosed with appendicitis and missed multiple games in the Sixers’ first-round series against the Boston Celtics. But then he showed flashes once again, powering the Sixers to a series win after they went down three games to one. He averaged 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in four games and the Sixers were 3-1 in games he played. And then he was drained as the Sixers were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks. The highs and lows with Embiid are stark, but the highs are great enough that even a player like James could hold out hope.

    Mike Gansey (second from left) and Jameer Nelson (right) have been busy filling out the Sixers’ roster this summer.

    Competence in the front office

    Previous iterations of the Sixers tried to land James, but they weren’t always taken seriously. They had talent with Simmons and Embiid in 2018, but weren’t stout up top as Brett Brown served as interim president of basketball operations and head coach. Former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey took big swings in recent years but saw trades for Paul George and James Harden fail to lift the team.

    Things appear to have taken a turn this summer. Mike Gansey, Bob Myers and Jameer Nelson are at the helm and appear to be building a team that will compete in the Eastern Conference. Moves to bring in Brown, Wade, Ariel Hukporti, Anfernee Simons and rookie Labaron Philon Jr., have started to add balance to the Sixers roster and are a good sign for the forthcoming Sixers season. And there’s still a chance one big name could be added to the bunch.

  • The Jaylen Brown trade benefits VJ Edgecombe, who will now have the time he needs to develop

    The Jaylen Brown trade benefits VJ Edgecombe, who will now have the time he needs to develop

    Jaylen Brown loves attention, which is why he went on Twitch to talk about his feelings just hours after releasing a statement on social media expressing his feelings about being traded from the Celtics to the Sixers for a PED cheat and four speculative draft picks.

    While Twitch-ing, or whatever it’s called, Brown got a phone call from the coworker who probably is happiest to have him aboard: VJ Edgecombe.

    It was just 30 seconds of Gen Z acknowledgment and ego stroking, but there was a real vibe of Thank God you’re on my team so now I don’t have to play every minute of every game.

    Later, on that Twitch stream, Brown announced:

    “‘The Process is back f— on.”

    Not really.

    Call it Process 2.0, and understand that Edgecombe, properly nurtured, will be as important to its success as anyone.

    That nurturing process got a lot smoother when the Celtics gave Brown away on Wednesday.

    It could get even smoother if King James arrives.

    On Thursday, LeBron James’ camp let it be known that he would consider playing next season in Philadelphia now that Brown has joined Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Edgecombe. The King, now 41, is hunting a fifth NBA title, and Philly has become a viable contender within the last few days, even though the Sixers currently can pay him only the veteran minimum, just under $4 million. This would be a $48 million pay cut from last season with the Lakers.

    Don’t hold your breath.

    As insane as landing LeBron would be, shedding a bad contract and landing a superstar is even nuttier. And fishier.

    Something is amiss when the smartest organization in basketball gives away a top-10 player and asks in return for a broken-down PED cheater and two first-round picks that probably aren’t going to be that good anyway.

    At any rate, the Celtics on Wednesday traded Brown, a five-time All-Star, who is 29, to the Sixers for Paul George, who is 36, and who has had just one good season since he was 29. The Sixers also sent first-round picks in 2028 and 2031 and two second-round picks to Boston. The most significant aspect of the deal is that it erased the worst contract in the history of the franchise; George has two more seasons left on a four-year, $211 million deal, and he hasn’t been worth one-tenth of it.

    The move also made the Sixers an immediate NBA title contender, since Brown is everything the Sixers wanted George to be: a shot-creating athlete at all three levels who can play and defend multiple positions.

    The deal also delivers an invaluable byproduct.

    It gives Edgecombe time.

    Time to develop.

    Time to learn.

    Time to rest.

    Edgecombe not only led rookies at 35 minutes per game, he ranked 11th in the entire league and averaged the eighth-most minutes for a rookie guard in the last 17 seasons. As the Sixers dealt with injury absences of Joel Embiid as well as the early load-management strategies and the late PED suspension of George, Edgecombe proved himself too good to not protect.

    “VJ is going to be a lot better in the long run with J.B. around,” said an NBA source who is intimately familiar with the 76ers. “At the end of last season, he was pretty worn out.”

    Outside of a diminished three-point shooting percentage, the wear and tear didn’t really show up in his other raw stats. They dipped in the playoffs, but then, Embiid and George were back on the court for much of the late season and postseason. But his decision-making became errant, his shot selection more questionable, and he tended to disappear. He needed help that his big-money vets were not there to provide.

    The absence of Paul George (8) had a trickle-down effect at times on VJ Edgecombe.

    Combined, they missed 89 of 164 games, more than half. This has been the norm for both of them for the past few seasons.

    Brown plays about 20 more games a season than Embiid and George.

    That means that when Embiid misses his 30 or 35 games this season, Brown will be there to carry the load, whereas George was not.

    That also means that when Embiid plays, Edgecombe will not have to serve as the second or third offensive option, using moves he shouldn’t be making and taking shots he shouldn’t be taking for at least another season or two. When the Sixers drafted him third overall, most projections cast him as a superior athlete with unlimited defensive potential but with limited plug-and-play offensive ability. He learned fast, averaged 16 points per game, and made the All-Rookie team, but, man, there were some ugly nights and some ugly shots.

    Brown will also help Maxey get off his feet a little more. Maxey led the NBA at 38.0 minutes per game in an MVP-caliber season, but he wore down, too. Both were affected by the early injury absence of Jared McCain, and then by McCain’s exit at the trade deadline, as well as the lack of consistent contributions from guard Quentin Grimes.

    Edgecombe and Brown don’t play the same position, exactly, but they will combine with Maxey, and possibly rookie Labaron Philon Jr., to manage the primary backcourt duties.

    Brown will arrive motivated to make the best impression possible.

    He’s in line for a two-year, $140 million extension that will put him under contract for the next five seasons. He will be a more focused defender and rebounder, play-make with more alacrity, and, inevitably, he will assume the role of mentor to Edgecombe that George served last year.

    He said in Thursday‘s social media post that he was “Excited and disappointed at the same time” to be leaving Boston, where he won a title, and coming to the Sixers, who bounced him from the playoffs this spring.

    It was delivered with Brown’s typical class and polish.

    The Twitch stuff? Less classy, less polished, but just as real.

    The Celtics, meanwhile, immediately started planting narratives about how zero-time All-Star guard Derrick White is a more valuable player than Brown. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst also reported that the Celtics, after consulting their analytics, considered it imperative to get backup center Mitchell Robinson off the court when they played the Knicks. Then, on Wednesday, they signed Robinson to a three-year, $47.4 million deal.

    No wonder the Sixers knocked them out in the first round.

    There is always the possibility that this trade is not as lopsided as it seems. The Celtics certainly didn’t see the value in retaining a guy who can make more than $320 million if he’s offered an extension.

    The pocket protector crowd loves to cite and manipulate undependable metrics that diminish Brown’s obvious talent, skill, value, and performance. They insist that his playmaking fluctuates, his defense is overrated, and his shot diet doesn’t regularly generate the most efficient looks for him or his teammates.

    Remember, analytics is an industry, and it has to feed itself and convince its consumers of its necessity.

    Therein lies an irony. As much as analytics have torpedoed the Sixers’ plans, execution, and hopes over the past 14 years of “The Process,” it appears that analytics now have delivered an unexpected reward — in the form of Jaylen Brown.

    Bonus: LeBron James?

    Benefit: VJ Edgecombe.

  • Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    At the broadest, most general philosophical level, Mike Gansey aced his first test as Sixers president on Tuesday night. He looked at his draft board, saw a player he’d graded as the best talent by a significant margin, and then he selected that player. The process was sound.

    As insignificant as it may seem, plenty of front offices mess it up. They prioritize things like roster construction or positional fit and they allow motivated reasoning to cloud the reality that all of the perfect players are long gone by the 22nd pick in the NBA draft. You must defy the odds just to select a player who ends up deserving a spot in a playoff rotation, let alone one who can make a decisive impact at a position of need. In Labaron Philon Jr., a sophomore guard from Alabama, the Sixers saw a talent so obvious that they didn’t feel like there was a choice to make.

    “He’s someone that fell into our lap, so to speak,” Gansey said.

    The Sixers ‘couldn’t pass up’ Labaron Philon Jr. after he ‘fell in our lap’ at No. 22 overall in NBA draft

    Of course, the real test is whether they are right. Not just about Philon, a dynamic ballhandler and shooter who averaged 22 points per game last season and who some mock drafts had going in the top 15. Gansey and his front office must also be correct in their evaluations of the players they could have drafted instead of Philon. Zuby Ejiofor, Chris Cenac Jr., Joshua Jefferson, to name a few. Each of those three possesses the size that Philon lacks and that a roster like the Sixers’ will eventually need on the wing alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Each went off the board in the six picks after Philon. Two of them went to Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls (Ejiofor to the Hawks at No. 23, Cenac to the Celtics at No. 27). History will be written by the teams that got it right.

    All you need to know about how the Sixers feel about Philon can be derived by the fact that they saw fit to draft him despite the overlap in skill sets with Maxey and Edgecombe and also the player they traded away for the pick they used to draft the Alabama guard. When Daryl Morey dealt Jared McCain to the Thunder with ownership’s approval, the thought was that the 2024 first-round pick’s long-term utility would be capped by his inability to play alongside two other smallish guards. He and Philon are hardly carbon copies of each other. Philon is a little longer in terms of standing reach and wingspan, and he is a quicker, more dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. But they both exist in the same general bucket, with the same limitations with regard to Maxey and Edgecombe.

    Sixers first-rounder Labaron Philon Jr. averaged 22 points in his final season at Alabama.

    Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of Tuesday’s first round, Gansey and Sixers coach Nick Nurse both spent a lot of time talking about how similar Philon is to Maxey and Edgecombe.

    “He’s another fast, kind of exciting guy that kind of plays a lot like Tyrese and VJ,” Nurse said. “It’s another guy with the speed, athleticism, quickness, deep range, some creativity with the ball. He’s a pretty good pick-and-roll player already, probably more advanced than a lot of guys coming out. I think he sees all the pieces of the pick-and-roll.”

    Nurse and Gansey both hemmed and hawed when asked whether they envisioned using all three of their young guards on the court at the same time.

    “I don’t see a lot of minutes, but maybe in certain situations we can,” Gansey said, while also deferring to Nurse.

    Nurse sounded equally skeptical.

    First-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. brings ball-handling, shooting ability, and playmaking to the Sixers

    “I think it’s a little early to answer that,” he said.

    Both downplayed the significance of the question. Games are more than long enough to accommodate three guards playing starter minutes at staggered intervals. Maxey and Edgecombe both finished among the league leaders in playing time last season, perhaps counterproductively so. In a world where each averages 32 minutes per game, that would leave another 32 where one or the other is on the bench.

    “My mindset is he’s talented,” Nurse said of Philon. “Let’s figure out how we’re going to get him on the floor.”

    Nick Nurse and Mike Gansey saw a lot of similarities between new Sixer Labaron Philon Jr. (right) and VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.

    The Sixers will have a good problem on their hands if Philon ends up good enough to warrant more minutes than are available. It will mean the minutes he does play are valuable. The Knicks won an NBA championship with Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and Jose Alvarado. The Spurs had Dylan Harper playing starter minutes off the bench behind De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. The Thunder had a slew of guards contribute, including the smallish McCain and Cason Wallace.

    “You look at our roster, we need help at every position, one through five,” Gansey said. “Obviously, we have the big four, and I think he fits. He’s another guard so now we can kind of focus in other areas on the roster.”

    However Philon turns out, the pick does offer us a little more evidence on what to expect out of Gansey and this Sixers roster. They didn’t use the No. 22 pick to select a player who might someday help alleviate the roster’s clearest current need (size on the wing). They didn’t trade it for a veteran who might’ve made them better in the short term. They didn’t use it to entice a team to take on Paul George’s contract. They did what a team in their position should be doing. They had an opportunity to draft a player they think will someday belong in a championship-caliber rotation, and they availed themselves of that opportunity. That is how it is going to need to be done: piece by piece.

  • First-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. brings ball-handling, shooting ability, and playmaking to the Sixers

    First-round pick Labaron Philon Jr. brings ball-handling, shooting ability, and playmaking to the Sixers

    NEW YORK — The 76ers entered the NBA draft fresh off a playoff series that exposed their roster shortcomings.

    That decisive second-round sweep by the New York Knicks showed that the franchise needed to double down on what it received from cornerstones Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid. They needed more speed, more scoring, more shooting, more rebounding, more everything.

    The Sixers’ first attempt at improving came with the selection of Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 overall on Tuesday, christening the Mike Gansey era as president of basketball operations.

    Sixers select Alabama guard Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick

    Let’s take a closer look at Philon’s career at Alabama, how he fits with the Sixers, and other areas of the Sixers’ roster that can still be addressed.

    What Philon brings to Philly

    Philon arrived at Alabama as a homegrown talent who proved to be a big-time scorer, earning Alabama’s Mr. Basketball high school honors.

    Before leaving town for Link Academy in Missouri for his senior season, Philon played three seasons at Baker High School in Mobile, Ala., and averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a junior. That scoring ability didn’t immediately translate to college in his freshman season at Alabama, when he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3. rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 37 games.

    Alabama’s Labaron Philon (right) averaged 10.6 points, 3.3. rebounds and 3.8 assists in 37 games as a freshman.

    Philon realized that he didn’t put together a strong enough campaign to enter the NBA. He went through the process and returned to school for another year, where his tape was more undeniable. As a sophomore, Philon averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5 assists. That was good enough to get buzz as a lottery pick before dropping to the Sixers at No. 22.

    Philon’s skill set features a crafty handle, ability to finish at the rim, and shooting range from deep. He can function in the screen-and-roll and is creative in open space. He made 57.4% of his two-pointers and 39.9% of his three-pointers last season, and those numbers are made more impressive by the fact that Philon was often the center of attention for Alabama and created a large share of his own shots.

    Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    Most important, Philon’s numbers weren’t empty calories. His production contributed to winning in both seasons for the Crimson Tide, as he helped direct a team that made the Elite Eight as a freshman and the Sweet 16 this past season. Each time his team met a No. 1 seed, losing to Cooper Flagg’s Duke team in 2024-25 and eventual champion Michigan in 2025-26.

    How Philon fits in Philly

    The Sixers have too many holes to fill in one draft. They entered Tuesday with voids in the backcourt and frontcourt. The franchise hit on Maxey and Edgecombe in recent drafts, but those stellar guards were near the top of the league in minutes played. Paul George and Embiid played inspired basketball at times when available, but they were not healthy nearly enough. George played only 37 games because of injury and suspension and Embiid called his 38 games played a “successful season” after he managed 19 games the season before.

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    There were several players on the board who could have helped the Sixers when the 22nd pick rolled arrived. And several of them were names that slipped down the board as Arizona’s Koa Peat, Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr., and Philon were available. The Sixers appeared to take the best player available, as president of basketball operations Mike Gansey intimated that they would.

    During the draft process, Iowa sharpshooter Bennet Stirtz, who was picked 16th and joined former Sixer Jared McCain with the Oklahoma City Thunder, made a poignant statement. He said every team can use more shooters and ballhandlers. That’s what Philon will bring to Philly, another player who can create and score when Maxey goes to the bench.

    He’s adept at getting downhill and making buckets in the midrange and over bigger bodies, which will be needed on a Sixers team that received most of its scoring from four players. That he is a strong three-point shooter will be a bigger boon for the Sixers after trading McCain at the deadline in February and struggling to make shots from deep in the postseason.

    Alabama guard Labaron Philon (right) shot 39.9% from three as a sophomore.

    The Sixers also trotted Edgecombe out as a secondary ballhandler often in his rookie season. But that typically amounted to him creating offense for himself or initiating and getting out of the way. There wasn’t much in between as he continues to improve his ballhandling. Philon can take some of that pressure off Edgecombe and do more to find Embiid and George, who have grown more dependent on their teammates to get them the ball at this time of their careers.

    What the Sixers still need to address

    Rebounding was a major issue for the Sixers last season. As was on-ball defense and communication. As were turnovers. Those things won’t all be addressed in the draft or free agency. The Sixers can add reinforcements at forward to lower the usage of a smaller lineup around Embiid. They can also retain Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes to keep depth and talent on the wings.

    But because of their contract obligations, there are some things that can only be fixed from within. Maxey, George, and Embiid are all on max contracts, limiting who the Sixers can add to the roster. That means those players will have to do more. It’s hard to ask Maxey to be better than he was during the regular season, when he carried the franchise to the playoffs and earned All-Star and third-team All-NBA honors. That leaves George and Embiid, whose availability will remain the biggest factor in this team’s success.

  • ‘I want us to go down in history’: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe’s bond will shape the Sixers’ future

    ‘I want us to go down in history’: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe’s bond will shape the Sixers’ future

    Inside the visitors’ locker room in Washington earlier this month, VJ Edgecombe slid over to join Tyrese Maxey for a joint postgame interview.

    Six minutes of banter, inside jokes, and genuine comments ensued between the 76ers guards. Maxey scanned a box score from the Sixers’ dominant victory over the Wizards and asked Edgecombe, with pseudo exasperation, “Bro, you only had one defensive rebound? How is that possible?” Edgecombe interjected during a Maxey answer about teammates who had scored 30 points off the bench this season, because the veteran had forgotten Justin Edwards and former Sixer Cameron Payne. And Maxey dropped that Edgecombe had started calling himself “PG1,” because he had 10 assists that night.

    “Just trying to make life easier for my dog right here,” Edgecombe said of Maxey. “They be hounding him. Guarding him full-court. Face guarding him. Doing all type of things. They trying their best to stop him, and they can’t, really.”

    The scene was evidence of how Maxey and Edgecombe can be playful in one moment, then candidly hold each other accountable in the next, then sincere about their partnership in the next. They are similarly wired: tenaciously hardworking and poised for their age, yet unafraid to let their personalities crack through their seriousness about their craft.

    Now the Sixers’ electric backcourt — which we can officially dub “VJ Maxx” thanks to their collaboration with clothing store TJ Maxx for their outfits for Sunday’s regular-season finale — are about to step into the postseason together for the first time. Joel Embiid, a former NBA Most Valuable Player, remains out while recovering from last week’s emergency appendectomy. Paul George, at 35 years old, must now be characterized as a complementary player who recently returned from a 25-game NBA suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

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    Maxey and Edgecombe have fueled this Sixers season, as the All-NBA contender and first-year player likely to finish third on an exceptional Rookie of the Year ballot. The Sixers likely will go as far as the pair can lead them, starting with Wednesday’s Play-In Tournament matchup against the Orlando Magic (7:30 p.m., Prime Video). And it marks another move into the Sixers’ future that has already been percolating, with Maxey and Edgecombe creating the core duo around whom the franchise should build.

    “We have this chip on our shoulder, I think,” Maxey said. “We’re competitive and we want to win. He don’t care about nothing but winning. He don’t care about his points. He don’t care about his stats. All he care about is winning, and it’s evident in his play, so that’s why we get along.”

    Added Edgecombe: “[He’s] one of the best players in the NBA. … My goal is to be that, to be a superstar. So it’s helping me to know the right steps and everything it takes in how to do that.”

    Maxey and Edgecombe were initially linked because of, as Maxey called it, the Sixers’ “very, very, very, very bad” 2024-25 season — plus fabulous draft lottery luck to land the third overall pick.

    Before the Sixers chose Edgecombe, Maxey remembered seeing clips of him dunking on “the kid from Gonzaga” (Joe Few) and talking trash while playing with former Sixer Buddy Hield with the Bahamian national team. Edgecombe, who is such a film junkie that he watched Maxey’s high school footage, was impressed with his quickness and skill.

    Sixers guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will serve as the core of the franchise in the future.

    They first met when Maxey stopped by the Sixers’ facility during Edgecombe’s predraft workout. They had a casual get-to-know-you conversation that day, before Maxey called to welcome him to the Sixers on draft night.

    When Maxey shared that his offseason workouts begin at 6 a.m., and Edgecombe committed to joining and then actually showed up, Maxey knew they were a basketball match.

    “And he’s smiling, too,” Maxey recently recalled to The Inquirer. “But he’s a tough kid, and I feel like I’m tough, as well.”

    The summer training sessions continued in Philly and Los Angeles, with a side quest to Disneyland during which Maxey forced Edgecombe to wear a Goofy hat. When Maxey peeked his head through a curtain to say, “Hey, buddy” during Edgecombe’s media day news conference, it was clear they had established a foundational bond.

    As the season approached, Maxey was ready for another leap into stardom. Coach Nick Nurse, meanwhile, had no hesitation about immediately putting Edgecombe in the starting lineup. They possessed the explosive speed and athleticism to push the pace, attack the rim, and make defensive plays on the ball.

    “If me and him are running,” Edgecombe recently told The Inquirer, “I think we’re hard to stop.”

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    Like in the Sixers’ opener at the Boston Celtics, when Maxey dropped 40 points and Edgecombe had 34 in a historic rookie debut. Or in December, when Edgecombe got into position to collect a short Maxey jumper for a go-ahead putback against the Golden State Warriors, just before Maxey raced to the other end for a game-clinching block at the buzzer. Or a couple weeks after that, when Maxey dished to Edgecombe for the game-winning three-pointer to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime.

    Maxey ascended into a top-5 scorer in the NBA (28.3 points per game) and the league leader in minutes played per game (38), while also averaging 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. Edgecombe demonstrated an all-around game — he finished the season averaging 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals in 75 games — and a knack for those crunch-time buckets.

    In mid-February, they took the cross-country trip to Los Angeles to represent the Sixers at All-Star Weekend. Maxey sat courtside as Edgecombe won Rising Stars MVP, before helping his team of younger U.S. players win the Sunday tournament.

    “He ain’t coming to watch it if I ain’t going to play hard,” Edgecombe said after the Rising Stars event. “ … I didn’t want to waste his time. I know he has a whole lot of stuff he could probably be doing.”

    In between that on-court success, there were signals of their deepening rapport.

    They flashed coordinated dance moves during pregame introductions and postgame interviews. When Edgecombe deadpanned in February that he rated a wicked Maxey dunk on Minnesota star Anthony Edwards a “6 out of 10,” a flabbergasted Maxey responded with, “He can’t even dunk on people, and he gave me a 6 out of 10?!”

    Sixers guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe build their bond over summer and preseason workouts.

    Cameras also caught a heated exchange between the two players during a January loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, when both thought they were supposed to pick up the ballhandler. Maxey did not realize the moment had blown up online until his father, Tyrone, called and asked, “Hey, you and VJ good?”

    “Everybody thought we was mad at each other,” Maxey said later. “That’s competitive nature. We can talk that out. We was just fine right after. … That’s my little brother.”

    Added Edgecombe: “We’re hard on each other, and then we also understand. … Every time he has something to say, I know it’s always coming from a place of love.”

    Nurse sees Maxey passing his early-career experiences on to Edgecombe. The most valuable, the rookie says, is observing the consistency with which Maxey has carried himself throughout the season.

    Maxey, meanwhile, already views Edgecombe in a role similar to his third season — aka, “we need him.” And though Edgecombe has occasionally gotten “lost in the sauce” scoring-wise, Maxey is proud of how the rookie has shifted into multiple roles.

    That was especially true last month, when the Sixers were missing four starters, including Maxey. That pushed Edgecombe into the lead ballhandler and top scoring option, and into encountering double-teams for the first time “that I can remember,” he said. Maxey, naturally, became a source of advice.

    “I told him that I hate it,” Edgecombe said following a March 14 win over the Brooklyn Nets. “But it’s a sign of respect. I’m going to ask him [how to combat it]. … But that just shows how good Tyrese is, also. I’ve just got to keep asking questions [and] try to figure out how to get through everything.”

    Added George: “Tyrese is giving [Edgecombe] a ton of confidence … and I think it’s showing. When he’s on the court, it’s almost like he’s been here before.”

    Paul George will enter the postseason healthy for the Sixers, and with a ‘weight lifted off’ his shoulders

    As the Sixers went down the stretch of the regular season, former coach Doc Rivers said he believes playing alongside Edgecombe has helped Maxey improve his defense. On fan appreciation night last week, the giveaway was a “Rookie Jam” T-shirt featuring Maxey and Edgecombe’s faces and video game-style ratings for various skills. San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson took a question about Edgecombe before last week’s matchup against the Sixers, and immediately tied him to Maxey.

    “It seems like he likes competing, and he and Maxey share that sentiment from afar,” Johnson said. “To have that in two young men, for a franchise with that amount of talent and, it feels like, character … that’s a really good source [for] your main characters involved in your program.”

    When asked where Edgecombe has most helped him this season, Maxey grinned and said, “He keeps me happy.” Maxey appreciates now being the veteran on the receiving end of the type of energy boost he knows he has provided to Embiid and former Sixers guard James Harden over the years. And though Maxey has shared a bit with Edgecombe about what to expect from the postseason, that demeanor is why “he’s the least of my worries.”

    Prior to Sunday’s regular-season finale, Nurse said he believes the Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt is “still unfolding.” As Edgecombe stepped into a media scrum to face questions about Wednesday’s play-in game against Orlando, he wore Gucci sunglasses to complement his TJ Maxx sweater, tie, and slacks. From across the room, Maxey yelled Edgecombe looked “clean as hell” and that he “ain’t a rookie no more.”

    “Playoff Valdez,” Maxey said, dropping Edgecombe’s full first name.

    Next, they will step into their first postseason together. And, perhaps, into the Sixers’ future.

    “Just to be his running mate,” Edgecombe said. “As the years go on, I want us to go down in history.”

  • Joel Embiid’s latest injury will sideline him for the Sixers’ next four games

    Joel Embiid’s latest injury will sideline him for the Sixers’ next four games

    Joel Embiid will be reevaluated in approximately one week as he continues to recover from an oblique strain in his right side, the 76ers announced Friday afternoon.

    Embiid, who has missed the last three games with the injury, will remain on the sideline as the Sixers travel to face the Hawks on Saturday night in Atlanta. Embiid has started individualized strength and conditioning work but has not participated in on-court practices.

    Including Saturday night’s game against Atlanta, the Sixers will play four games before Embiid is expected to be reevaluated next Friday.

    A timeline of Joel Embiid’s injuries with the Sixers

    “I don’t think we’re too far away from him getting on the court,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.

    Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe (77) suffered a back bruise on this play against the Spurs on Tuesday night.

    VJ Edgecombe was listed as doubtful for Saturday night’s game on the team’s official injury report. The rookie guard did not participate in Friday’s practice, but he did go through an on-court session.

    Edgecombe was injured in the final seconds of the first half of the Sixers’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. He was ruled out of Wednesday night’s win over the Utah Jazz with a back bruise. The Sixers will get back one starter for Saturday night’s game, as Kelly Oubre Jr. will return after missing back-to-back games against San Antonio and Utah with an illness.

    Oubre, a starting wing in his 10th NBA season, has averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 38 games this season. Edgecombe has played in 57 of the Sixers’ 62 games this season, averaging 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds.

    Embiid has played 33 games this season, averaging 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Sixers remain without Paul George, who will be eligible to return from his 25-game suspension for violating the league’s antidrug policy on March 25.

    Breaking down Sixers’ final 20 games: Paul George’s (and Jared McCain’s) return, Joel Embiid’s injury and more
  • Tyrese Maxey breaks Sixers’ record for three-pointers in strong win over the Miami Heat

    Tyrese Maxey breaks Sixers’ record for three-pointers in strong win over the Miami Heat

    Tyrese Maxey broke Allen Iverson’s 76ers franchise record for 3-pointers, finishing with five 3s and a team-high 28 points Thursday night in the Sixers’ 124-117 victory over the Miami Heat.

    Maxey also had 11 assists and helped steady the Sixers after they blew a 16-point halftime lead. Joel Embiid had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Kelly Oubre scored 21 points for the Sixers, who have now won three straight after dropping their previous four.

    Bam Adebayo had 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Tyler Herro scored 25 points for the Heat, who have lost two straight.

    Maxey entered the game with 882 made three-pointers, three behind Iverson, and broke the record with 1 minute, 38 seconds left in the first quarter. He made all of his five three-point attempts — a career high for a period — and scored 20 points in the first quarter alone. He finished 5 of 12 beyond the arc.

    The 25-year-old Maxey now has 887 three-pointers midway through his sixth season; Iverson played his first 10 seasons and parts of two more for the Sixers to accomplish his feat.

    Miami took its first lead of the game on a 3 by Herro with 2:44 left, but the Heat didn’t score again. Maxey hit two free throws and then found Kelly Oubre for a 3 to put the Sixers back ahead 121-117. Embiid extended the lead on a 3 with 29.2 seconds remaining.

    The Sixers led 73-57 at halftime. Miami rallied to tie it late in the third quarter, and the margin was within single digits the rest of the way.

    Next up: the Sixers are on a road trip to take on rivals Boston on Sunday night (7 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Sixers’ losing streak reaches three after 117-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks

    Sixers’ losing streak reaches three after 117-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks

    Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 10 rebounds and CJ McCollum added 23 points as the Atlanta Hawks beat the 76ers 117-107 on Thursday night in the teams’ first game after the All-Star break.

    Dyson Daniels finished with 15 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 14, and Zaccharie Risacher and Jock Landale each had 10 as the Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with their third win over the Sixers this season.

    Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points and Rising Stars MVP VJ Edgecombe added 20 for the Sixers, who were without center Joel Embiid, who missed the game due to right shin soreness.

    Cameron Payne is happy to return to Sixers: ‘When your focus is in the right place, things like this happen’

    Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 points and Quentin Grimes scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half for Philly. Andre Drummond contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds as the Sixers lost their third in a row and for the fourth time in five games.

    The Hawks built an 11-point lead with approximately six minutes remaining before the Sixers charged back and closed within 108-104 with less than three minutes left. Atlanta closed the game with a 9-3 run that included five points by Johnson, who shot 14-for-16 from the line.

    The 76ers said Embiid experienced soreness in his shin while participating in a right knee injury management program over the break. After consulting with doctors, Embiid has received daily treatment, while progressing through on-court work and strength and conditioning.

    Coach Nick Nurse said before the game against the Hawks that the plan is to get Embiid on the court on Friday and “see how he looks from there.” Nurse said he “don’t anticipate it being a long time.”

    Embiid is averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 31 games this season.

    The Sixers will face the Pelicans on Saturday in New Orleans (7 p.m., NBCSP).

  • VJ Edgecombe describes intense practices, one-on-one battles with Tyrese Maxey: ‘About to throw hands in there’

    VJ Edgecombe describes intense practices, one-on-one battles with Tyrese Maxey: ‘About to throw hands in there’

    Following his Rising Stars MVP, VJ Edgecombe joined former NBA star Jeff Teague and co-hosts DJ Wells and Brandon Hendricks on the Club 520 Podcast. But if listeners didn’t know any better, they might have thought they accidentally tuned into an episode of Kylie Kelce’s podcast, as Edgecombe repeatedly made it clear that he was “not gonna lie.”

    The Sixers guard candidly discussed his pre-draft workouts, the intensity of Sixers practices, his relationships with his teammates, and his “Welcome to the NBA” moment. Here’s everything you missed from Edgecombe’s appearance on the Club 520 Podcast …

    ‘I’ve never been so nervous’

    Before making historic NBA debuts, gracing the cover of SLAM Magazine with Tyrese Maxey, and getting shoutouts from the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Edgecombe spent one season at Baylor University.

    Inside Sixers: VJ Edgecombe’s new mentor, Tyrese Maxey’s ‘tanking’ perspective, and more from All-Star Weekend

    “At the beginning of the year, I’m not going to lie, I thought I wasn’t going nowhere,” said Edgecombe, who averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists at Baylor. “I thought I had to stay another year. And then conference [games] came around and I started hooping for real, for real.

    “You know the people that be doing all the little rankings and stuff? You know, you pay attention to that. Freshman year, they got me in like honorable mentions. I’m not even in the top 10. I’m like, it’s quiet, bro. I’m like, I’m going to have to run it back. And then conference came around and I just started hooping.”

    Once Edgecombe declared for the draft, he participated in the NBA combine and decided to conduct a private workout with only one team: the Sixers.

    Sixers head coach Nick Nurse (right) talks to Edgecombe during a December game against the Pacers. Edgecombe won MVP of the NBA Rising Stars game over All-Star Weekend.

    “I only worked out for one team. I took my chances, I ain’t going to lie,” Edgecombe said. “And that was Philly. I only worked out in Philly. I went in there, I’m not gonna lie, [and] shot four air balls. I was nervous as [expletive].

    “But then I was like if they draft me or not, it’s whatever at this point. I wasn’t even trying to trip about it. But, I’m not going to lie, I’ve never been so nervous, bro. Because you got the owners, you got everybody on the sideline just watching you.”

    That risk ended up paying off. Edgecombe was drafted third overall by the Sixers and has been one of the league’s top rookies, averaging similar numbers to his lone season in Waco: 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.

    Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. releases a new rap song, ‘Fast & Furious,’ under the stage name t$unami

    ‘About to throw hands in there at practice’

    Edgecombe joined a team with veteran players like Maxey, Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Kelly Oubre Jr. When asked about the intensity of Sixers practices, Edgecombe responded: “I ain’t going to lie, [expletive] about to throw hands in there at practice.”

    However, Edgecombe believes that those high-energy practices — along with his one-on-one battles with Maxey — have helped the team when it comes time to compete.

    “I feel like that helps us a lot though,” Edgecombe added. “Me and [Maxey] play ones. That’s the first time, I’m going to be honest, the first time I’m like I’m really losing ones, for real. That [expletive] can hoop. I ain’t going to lie. I didn’t know he was that fast, bro. And he can shoot.”

    Edgecombe said he’s continually impressed by Sixers center Joel Embiid (left).

    ‘They be dropping gems all the time’

    When they’re not getting ready to “throw hands,” Edgecombe is learning from some of the vets on the team, including George, a nine-time NBA All-Star.

    “They be dropping gems all the time, bro,” Edgecombe said. “Teaching me off-the-court stuff, on-the-court stuff. I ain’t going to lie, I been working with [George] too with ball-handling and all that, just trying to get in that bag, just trying to activate a different part of my game, bro. I mean, I’m able to just run by [guys] sometimes, but you know just trying to be able to break [them] down. … I feel like it will just make it a lot easier for me, if I’m able to get to my spot and be able to break down.”

    Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe wins Rising Stars MVP, adding another accomplishment in his terrific season

    And when it comes to Embiid, Edgecombe is still impressed by the former MVP’s presence on the court.

    “He cool as [expletive],” Edgecombe said. “He just chill. Be in his own little world. I swear, I’ve never seen someone really that good. I ain’t going to lie. He good, bro. I sit there and just watch him. He just be going at people. I told him, ‘Bro, if I was like 7-foot, I probably would have been able to guard him.’ But, he being drawing fouls and all type of different stuff going on, bro.”

    ‘That’s my welcome to the NBA moment’

    When Edgecombe first made the transition to the NBA, he immediately recognized the difference in pace from college. But his true “Welcome to the NBA” moment came on the defensive end.

    “I had to guard Luka [Doncic], Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], D-Book [Devin Booker], [Jalen] Brunson,” Edgecombe said. “I got to guard all of them. That’s my ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment. I’m not going to lie.”

    When asked who was the toughest player to guard in the league, he responded: “I ain’t going to lie to you, it was Ja Morant. He had 40 [points].”

    Tyrese Maxey’s All-Star Weekend showed he’s not merely a promising young star. Maxey has become one of the faces of the NBA.
  • Inside Sixers: VJ Edgecombe’s new mentor, Tyrese Maxey’s ‘tanking’ perspective, and more from All-Star Weekend

    Inside Sixers: VJ Edgecombe’s new mentor, Tyrese Maxey’s ‘tanking’ perspective, and more from All-Star Weekend

    LOS ANGELES — VJ Edgecombe did not want to waste Tyrese Maxey’s time once he took his courtside seat for the Rising Stars event at NBA All-Star Weekend.

    And Maxey wanted Edgecombe to answer his simple question.

    “I said, ‘Listen, what you going to do? You going for MVP or not?’” Maxey recalled. “He said he was going to go for it, and that’s what he did. That’s just who VJ is. He plays every single game the same way.”

    The 76ers guards were in sync during their time together in Los Angeles, mirroring how they have instantly become an electric duo during their first 54 games as NBA teammates. Their presence at All-Star Weekend — Maxey as a contender to wind up on MVP ballots, Edgecombe as one of the league’s top rookies — was warranted. Edgecombe winning MVP of the Rising Stars event, before Maxey helped spearhead Sunday’s championship-winning Team Stars, made the weekend a success.

    Tyrese Maxey’s All-Star Weekend showed he’s not merely a promising young star. Maxey has become one of the faces of the NBA.

    Now, the two Sixers who both rank in the league’s top 10 in minutes logged must recharge for the regular season’s stretch run. The Sixers sit sixth in a competitive middle of the Eastern Conference. And with Paul George still serving a 25-game suspension and Joel Embiid’s health still a wild card — the former MVP center missed the final two games before the break with knee soreness — Maxey and Edgecombe are going to continue leading the charge.

    Before the NBA season resumes, here are some other Philly basketball-related nuggets from All-Star Weekend.

    Carter pegged Edgecombe as Rising Stars ‘closer’

    Edgecombe may now have a new mentor in Hall of Famer Vince Carter, his fiery coach during the Rising Stars tournament.

    Carter said Saturday morning that he already “[gravitates] to young talent that wants to be great, that’s willing to listen, that wants to learn. Because I was that guy.” And Kyle Lowry, a friend of Carter’s and Edgecombe’s teammate, had already requested that Carter spend additional time with the Sixers rookie. Yet Carter had an inkling that Edgecombe initially thought his motivational tactics were “just talk” — until that carried from conversations, to the practice court, to Friday’s games.

    “Now that I think that he knows me, I mean what I say,” Carter said. “ … I’m going to turn my volume up and I’m going to get on your ass a little bit, and he appreciated that.”

    Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe opens his arms before embracing Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey.

    So when Edgecombe scored 10 consecutive points — including the game-winning jumper — to secure their team’s first win of the night, it was no accident.

    “Once it came down to [needing a] closer,” Carter said, “I pulled him aside and said, ‘This is what we’re going to do. I’m going to put you in position. Let’s go.’”

    The ‘tanking’ debate

    “Tanking” was the first topic addressed during NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s news conference, after the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers received fines of $500,000 and $100,000, respectively, for violating the player participation policy and “conduct detrimental to the league.” Both teams either rested or prematurely removed healthy key players to, presumably, increase their chances of losing the basketball game and improving their draft lottery odds.

    ‘It was all God’s plan’ Tyrese Maxey fell to the Sixers with the 21st pick in the 2020 draft, thanks to an unlikely path

    “Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory? Yes, is my view,” Silver said Saturday afternoon. “Which was what led to those fines. And not just those fines, but to my statement that we’re going to be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances this season in terms of teams’ behavior, and very intentionally wanted teams to be on notice.”

    Maxey has a unique perspective on the tanking conundrum, following a 2024-25 Sixers season that began with championship aspirations but abruptly face-planted into an injury-riddled disaster.

    During his All-Star media day news conference, Maxey reiterated how much last season taught him about mentally handling constant losing for the first time in his life. He was eventually shut down for the season with a finger injury, and other rotation players were held out of down-the-stretch games. The Sixers were also fined $100,000 during that period.

    But Maxey also could not deny that “the outcome was VJ Edgecombe,” after the Sixers landed the No. 3 overall pick in a dramatic draft lottery. Edgecombe became an immediate starter and impact player on both ends of the floor while averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

    Sixers guards Tyrese Maxey (left) and VJ Edgecombe are among the leaders in minutes played this season.

    “He’s great, man,” Maxey said of Edgecombe. “Not just basketball-wise, but for our team personality-wise and culture-wise for our organization and things that we’re trying to turn around.”

    The Sixers will play 10 of their final 28 games against opponents expected to be tanking, including two apiece against the Jazz and Pacers.

    Brunson’s weekend a family affair

    Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks guard and former Villanova standout, has become an All-Star regular, earning a spot on the more veteran U.S. Team Stripes.

    He was part of Kawhi Leonard’s monster 31-point outburst to beat Team World, understandably deploying the point-guard strategy of “feed him the ball, and get out of the way.” Brunson at one point in that game also got matched up against Knicks teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, which Brunson deadpanned meant, “No matter what shot I shot, the ball was going in.”

    Yet Brunson’s highlight of the weekend was winning Saturday’s Shooting Stars contest alongside Towns and Knicks legend Allan Houston. Their designated passer for the event? Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father and a Knicks assistant coach.

    What makes Knicks star Jalen Brunson so special? ‘The magic is in the work.’

    “Spending time with my family in an atmosphere like this, in a place like this,” Brunson said, “it really means the world to me.”

    After a run to the Eastern Conference finals last spring, the Knicks season has been up-and-down. When asked which team is the biggest threat to New York in the conference, Brunson said one can “obviously” point to the two teams currently ahead of them in the East standings: the second-place Boston Celtics and first-place Detroit Pistons.

    New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson’s highlight of the weekend was spending time with family, including his father Rick Brunson, a Knicks assistant.

    But Brunson also cautioned that “the East is better than what people think it is.”

    “So you can’t really look ahead and you can’t really be focused on one or two teams,” Brunson said. “You have to prepare for everybody.”

    Duren’s All-Star debut

    Jalen Duren looked perfectly comfortable in the All-Star limelight, rocking sunglasses during Sunday’s postgame media session.

    As a first-time All-Star, the Sharon Hill native and Roman Catholic product took in all the weekend’s extracurriculars — including “pictures, after pictures, after pictures, after pictures.” He also flashed what makes him an interior force for the East-leading Pistons, totaling six points and four rebounds in Team Stars’ dominant championship-game victory.

    Source: Guard Cam Payne rejoining Sixers for the rest of the season

    The 22-year-old Duren also found value in observing how his fellow All-Stars carried themselves through the weekend.

    “Being part of this group of guys, you’ve got to walk with a certain type of pride and responsibility,” he said. “I think my perspective changed a little bit of how I approach the game and the rest of my career.”

    VJ, meet Kareem

    When asked about favorite parts of his first All-Star experience, Edgecombe enthusiastically mentioned the moment he wound up shaking hands with and sitting next to the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

    “That was fire,” Edgecombe said.

    That reaction demonstrates the reverence Edgecombe has for the game’s history, a trait Sixers coach Nick Nurse has mentioned when speaking about the rookie’s beyond-his-years basketball IQ.

    “Just [to] be in the same room as [Abdul-Jabbar] is a blessing,” Edgecombe said following the Rising Stars tournament. “Obviously, when we go on the floor, we try to honor everyone that came before us by playing hard, doing all the little things in the game. Grow it in the community off the floor. …

    “Shout out to all the ‘OGs’ that came before me. Everyone. It’s all love from me.”