PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that has championship aspirations after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in the offseason in order to join Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Co. get the job done. The Sixers will field one of the more talented rosters in the league heading into the new season led by the star quartet.
However, there are still some young pieces on this roster that will likely play a role in the team's success. Second-year guard VJ Edgecombe and rookie Labaron Philon Jr. will look to make an impact on the rotation and develop as the season continues.
Philon, the No. 22 pick in the draft, will lean on people like Edgecombe to help him make this big transition. The second-year guard just went through his first season
in the league and is ready to give advice to Philon should he need it.
"Obviously, it's a totally different team," said Edgecombe. "I ain’t had this team last year, but I must say, as someone I talk to a lot, any little thing I can help him with, I try. We talk a lot, off the court, outside of practice facilities, we'll be on the phone or something, play the game together. I've known him for a minute. So that’s somebody that I've obviously had a good relationship with, and it's continued growing. That's my brother."
One of the bigger challenges in the league is adjusting to the NBA game. The speed is much different and the schedule is much more compact than it is in college. Edgecombe had to work through that and Philon is now working through it now. He is coming off a grueling week of practice in his first NBA training camp and it appeared to affect his shot a bit in the preseason win over the New York Knicks on Monday.
"I think he played really well," Edgecombe smiled. "Definitely fatigued. Like your first NBA game. He played like 25-plus minutes, so now, I'm happy for him, I’m happy that he got to go out there and be himself."
Philon will continue to lean on Edgecombe and grow as a player as they head into the new season.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: VJ Edgecombe has advice to give to Sixers rookie Labaron Philon Jr.
