DETROIT -- When considering all of the big additions the Philadelphia 76ers made in the offseason, it makes sense for second-year guard VJ Edgecombe to take something of a step back in order to help the team succeed.
After averaging 16.0 points and having a usage rate of 20.1% as a rookie, Edgecombe is down to 12.7 points and a usage rate of 16.8% in his second season. That was to be expected with the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the core, but Edgecombe has still found a way to be a helpful player for this group.
If there is anybody in this league who understands sacrifices, making adjustments, and such, Anfernee Simons certainly does and he's been impressed with Edgecombe.
"I think he's handling it great," said Simons. "We ask
him to guard the best player each and every night. He goes out there, plays his heart out, regardless if he's shooting the ball well or not, and obviously some nights he ain't shooting the ball well, he still comes up big for us. He still make plays regardless of how he’s shooting that night, and I think that's a that's a big step in growth."
Edgecombe continues to step up and give the Sixers some big production in key moments. Especially, as of late as the second-year guard knocked down clutch 3-pointers to hold off both the New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets before then going for 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting against the Chicago Bulls on Monday. For being such a young player and trying to find his way in this league, Edgecombe has been terrific and that has left Simons impressed.
"Especially, a young player to be able to do that because that's hard for a lot of players to do," Simons added. "That's hard for a lot of players to do, especially when they coming in young and the first year they kind of had, kind of a a big offensive role, but in order for him to come in and still have great games and be able to impact the game in multitude of ways, that helps out the team as well."
The Sixers will begin a 3-game road trip on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Anfernee Simons gives thoughts on the play of Sixers' VJ Edgecombe
