PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are a team filled with superstars in the form of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. However, one should not forget about second-year guard VJ Edgecombe amid the presence of the stars.
Obviously, Edgecombe's role has changed with the many additions the Sixers made to this roster. The focus shifts from putting the ball in his hands and allowing him to do a lot on the floor and develop his overall game to now the second-year guard has to do other things in order to make an impact.
However, with the game on the line on Friday against the New York Knicks, the Sixers ran a great play to get Edgecombe open and he iced the win with a clutch 3 at the top of the key.
"He doesn't shy away from
the moment," James said of Edgecombe. "Young kid, but he thrives in the moment, so it's great to just have those guys, those complementary guys out there on the floor where we all complement one another. If they double team, VJ having confidence. Tyrese gonna get him the ball, and he can knock down the shots and vice versa. Joel, Dean (Wade), or JB when he’s in the lineup. Whoever's on the floor. So, Ant (Anfernee Simons) was big tonight again. We’re all just trying to complement each other."
The Knicks sent a double to Maxey after the Edgecombe screen before the young guard popped out beyond the 3-point line. Maxey found Edgecombe as he made the right play off that double team and found his young teammate, who knocked down a big 3 to take down the champs for the second time on the season. The trust the Sixers have in Edgecombe is a big part of their success.
"Biggest thing for me is making the right play," Maxey said. "I'm never going to force anything. I think last game, I had to make shots, and they didn't trap me. This game they trapped me. If they trap me, I'm going to make the right play. I'm going to get the ball to Bron, get the ball to Joel, get the ball to VJ. Whoever that's open. And we are going to play from there. We trust each other."
As the Sixers move forward, Edgecombe is going to continue to play a big role for this group. He can find ways to score without the basketball and has been terrific as a defender. The goal now is to move forward and grow as a team and a player.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: LeBron James, Sixers give credit to VJ Edgecombe after win over Knicks
