Paul George Makes Bold Comparison for Sixers’ Rookie: “A Young Jimmy Butler”

VJ Edgecombe, the Philadelphia 76ers' third overall draft pick, has played only one Summer League game so far due to a thumb sprain. In that debut against the Utah Jazz, he recorded 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Teammate Paul George praised Edgecombe's performance on his podcast, noting his strong two-way play and adaptation to NBA spacing. George highlighted Edgecombe's mid-range effectiveness, pick-and-roll execution, and "flashes of stardom," comparing his tenacity and movement to a young Jimmy Butler. He suggested the limited showing was sufficient to justify resting him for the remainder of summer.

ESPN analyst Tim McMahon lauded Edgecombe as an elite "wow athlete" with exceptional leaping ability and shot selection during his debut. McMahon also noted that Edgecombe joined Victor Wembanyama, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum as the only top-five picks since 2017 to achieve a 25-point, 10-rebound game in Summer League.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse is expected to integrate Edgecombe into the regular-season rotation, with George's support potentially making him a Rookie of the Year contender. Summer League coach TJ DiLeo commended Edgecombe's basketball IQ, court vision, and aggressive gap-attacking, emphasizing his early execution of the team's simplified offensive strategy.

While Edgecombe's participation in the Las Vegas Summer League remains uncertain, his current impact has generated significant optimism about his NBA readiness and future contributions to the 76ers.