Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe bought off to a historic begin to his NBA profession on Wednesday night time in his group’s 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics. Edgecombe completed with 34 factors, seven rebounds and three assists and broke information beforehand held by LeBron James and Allen Iverson within the course of.
Edgecombe, the No. 3 general select of Baylor, broke a 22-year-old document set by James when he scored 14 factors within the first quarter. James beforehand had the document for first-quarter factors in an NBA debut when he scored 12 again in 2003. And when Edgecombe scored his thirty first and thirty second factors with a bucket on the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter, he broke the 76ers franchise document for many factors scored in an NBA debut beforehand held by Iverson, who scored 30 in his first sport in 1996.
“It was fairly good,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse mentioned. “Opening night time. I believe that there was some house for him to shoot. … I believe he took some drives. Actually an important begin. There’s tons of room and various things he must do. I would like him to be a little bit extra aggressive within the open ground. I believe he actually has that in his sport. That is an incredible first-game efficiency. It truly is.”
Edgecombe’s 34 factors have been essentially the most in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain set the all-time document with 43 in 1959. Edgecombe is now third all-time for factors scored in a debut behind Chamberlain’s 43 and Frank Selvy, who scored 35 factors in 1954.
“That is fairly good,” Nurse mentioned with a chuckle when studying the place Edgecombe’s efficiency ranks in NBA historical past. “He has a superb motor. He performed a ton of minutes. We definitely wanted the offense. He definitely regarded fairly snug on the market. I believe that is most likely what I’ve observed essentially the most about him. He appears to know what is going on on on the market for a younger participant. You do not see him making foolish errors. He is simply enjoying the appropriate approach. He is bought an excellent really feel for the sport. That is fairly cool, although. That is a neat listing to get on.”
The 76ers trailed by 11 factors getting into the fourth however surged again behind the efforts of Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey, who mixed for 74 factors within the win. Nonetheless, it practically unraveled when Edgecombe missed two free throws with 8.5 seconds remaining, permitting Boston to have an opportunity on the win. Nonetheless, the Celtics weren’t in a position to convert, and the 76ers held on for a dramatic win of their season opener.
Edgecombe bought the beginning on opening night time subsequent to Maxey within the backcourt together with Kelly Oubre Jr., Dom Barlow and Joel Embiid. The early returns for the 76ers new-look backcourt have been promising. Whereas Edgecombe was breaking information, Maxey additionally had a standout efficiency by scoring 40 factors. That quantity tied Hal Greer for essentially the most factors scored in franchise historical past throughout a season-opener. Embiid, in the meantime, tallied solely 4 factors in 20 minutes and was not on the ground within the ultimate minutes of the sport.
Edgecombe, a blue-chip recruit within the 2024 recruiting cycle, noticed his draft inventory soar throughout his first and solely season at Baylor beneath Scott Drew. Edgecombe established himself as one of the athletic gamers on the collegiate stage and continued to enhance all through the season. The 76ers handed on Ace Bailey — who was chosen two picks later by the Utah Jazz — and as an alternative drafted Edgecombe with the third choice.
