A decade ago, I was writing for Liberty Ballers as an idealistic college student who knew in his heart of hearts that the Sixers would be a championship team quite soon. Well, a decade later, I am a grouch in his 30s, writing here once again, and the Sixers still have not advanced beyond the second round of the NBA playoffs. Do I feel like an idiot for dedicating so much of myself, professionally and emotionally to this franchise? Of course. As a new season beckons on Wednesday evening, am I ready
to get sucked in and get my hopes up all over again? For sure.
I’ve grown tired of the old guard. Joel Embiid is one of the most talented players to ever step on a basketball court, but I’m pretty worn out on living and dying with each injury update for the big fella. It’s a lot and takes away from caring about what’s actually happening hoops wise for this team. I just can’t do it and I know I’m not alone there, leading to waning fan interest in the Sixers across the Delaware Valley over the last two seasons.
I’m buying back in though. I have VJ Edgecombe to thank for that.
The Sixers had the third pick in this past summer’s NBA Draft in what was widely considered to be a two-player class with the top guy being the only truly franchise-altering figure. That had me jaded at the time. I certainly did not want to end up with Ace Bailey, so landing Edgecombe was a much preferable outcome. Maybe I need someone, something to merely get me excited about the Sixers and Edgecombe just so happens to be coming to Philadelphia in my time of need, but I believe in the dude and the way he plays.
At a certain point, you have to give up the chase and just want players who are exciting and fly through the air and leave you awestruck. That could be Edgecombe. The Sixers have a player who can dunk, play defense and may even turn out to be a decent shooter. Is he going to be Dwyane Wade? No, probably not. Could he be prime Victor Oladipo as a two-way star for this city? Maybe!
I love that he’s starting on Opening Night in Boston as well. Gone are the days where I had to convince myself everything was fine when Evan Turner was coming off the bench as the No. 2 pick during the 2011 campaign. That won’t be the case for Edgecombe. Sixers fans will get to see their rookie play major minutes from the jump alongside two All-Stars in Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, allowing him to slowly transition from role player rookie to star-in-the-making in the next year or two.
Sorry, but the Sixers ultimately aren’t going to win as many games as Philly wants them to and they’re certainly not making the Eastern Conference Finals. Once you’ve resigned yourself to that, there needs to be another outlet around the team to focus your energy on in a positive way. That’s going to be No. 77 for me.
Again, I’ve seen this Sixers movie annually in the last 25 years and I know how it ends. There is no M. Night Shyamalan twist waiting to happen next spring that catapults the team into the NBA Finals. Lucy, at the last second, will rip the football away and send Charlie Brown flying, etc. Still, perhaps there’s a moment in the next half-dozen years where this all works out. If that’s the case, I’d bet anything on Edgecombe being the catalyst.
