After his first game with the Delaware Blue Coats in 2024 Justin Edwards told me, “I felt good, every shot was going in,” as he cruised to 28 points, scoring 10 in the final quarter.
Whether he knew it or not, that shooting performance would propel him to a two-way deal with the Sixers later that season, and eventually a three-year contract extension following his rookie campaign in 2025.
A hometown kid, Edwards grew up in Philadelphia and attended Imhotep Charter School, where they won the city championship
when he was a sophomore. As a junior, he led them to a class 5A state championship.
As a Sixer, Edwards has seen inconsistent minutes, especially last season, but his shooting, size and length make him a valuable bench piece for the new-look team.
With the top seven roster spots practically secured, Edwards finds himself in a tier with Dominick Barlow of holdover role players who will be competing for end-of-rotation minutes.
Edwards shot 37% from deep last season, a notch above his rookie-year mark, and will need to duplicate or improve that efficiency if he wants to continue being a vital piece for the team.
His perimeter defense has been steady, but a jump as an interior defender and rebounder could go a long way for this version of the Sixers who will presumably be searching for frontcourt help on the glass wherever they can get it. Edwards rebounding average fell over 50% from his rookie year (3.4 rpg) to last season (1.5 rpg). An uptick will be crucial if Edwards wants consistent minutes from Nick Nurse this season.
The undrafted Kentucky product has displayed an ability to finish at the rim, but an offseason bulking up and getting stronger could make him intriguing as an off-ball option off the bench. I am watching to see how strong he goes to the rim amidst taller defenders. If he can show a confidence and ability to fight through contact, as well as make an impact on the glass, there is a potential we see him play some power forward and help ease the load on guys like LeBron James and Dean Wade.
After a down year, it is very intriguing to see if Edwards can play his way into a consistent role for Nurse with the new additions. On paper, he should fit in easily off-ball and create the play that is available to him. An improvement cutting from the arc to the paint could be crucial, as the Sixers are equipped with great passers who can also draw multiple defenders themselves.
Edwards has seen the hype around him come back to earth after being named the top recruit in the nation by ESPN in 2023. But he has all the tools and measurables to stick in the NBA, and a chance to be a crucial piece to the Mike Gansey experiment happening on the South Philadelphia hardwood.
