CAMDEN, N.J. -- The challenge for the Philadelphia 76ers heading into the 2026-27 season was building chemistry and cohesion to match all the talent on the roster. The Sixers have a ton of talent, to say the least, but it was going to take time to build that so important chemistry that they need.
One has to wonder how the Sixers are building that chemistry away from the game. It helps to build things off the floor, which then leads to success on the floor due to the work they have done on the floor. In the age of technology, VJ Edgecombe explained that a group chat amongst the team has really done wonders.
"I think that just helps build camaraderie, our camaraderie," Edgecombe explained. "That's important. We just talk. It'll be anything. Like,
we just try to have conversations about, like I said, we're around each other for the next, hopefully until June. I don't know what months that is, but you know? Hopefully until June. So it's important. You know, it's important. Like I said, we just have those relationships, and I say everyone, we're all active in it. So yeah, the group chat's been great."
Along with the group chat, there's also the video game concept. The Sixers have a lot of players on the team who play games, most notably Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid along with the younger players on the roster, and that time playing the game and hopping on a chat on the game can go a long way toward building chemistry as a group.
In the past, the game of choice was the popular NBA game 2K, but not anymore.
"I will be honest, we do not play 2K no more," Edgecombe said matter of factly. "We play Call of Duty, though. We’ll play Call of Duty, me and Rese, Justin (Edwards). I’m trying to get JB (Jaylen Brown) and Bron (LeBron James) to get in on the game. Joel only want to play MLB (The Show). I feel he’s too good. I ain’t that good at MLB, so I can’t. Nah, I like to win, so I can’t let Joel beat me."
These are all excellent ways of building that chemistry and camaraderie that the Sixers will need as they move forward. Of course, the brand new Grand Theft Auto IV game is set to be released on Nov. 19, which is a game that Edgecombe stated he's excited about. As far as why no more 2K, it appears the game has just fallen out of favor.
"Call of Duty just dropped," Edgecombe explained. "New Call just dropped, man. I’ll be on 2K here and there, but (there’s) New Call. And you know, anytime something new come out, you go on the new game. So that’s what it is."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: VJ Edgecombe explains how Sixers are building chemistry off the court
