Usher in your moment! How did the No. 3 pick change the 76ers?

One afternoon in training camp, V.J. Edgecombe and Marks seemed to be on the training field, taking turns to have a one-on-one duel.

It was a confrontation game that took place in the first week of training camp. The rules were simple: players caught the ball in the mid-range, and the attack time was shortened from 24 seconds in the official game to 5 seconds. Within these 5 seconds, you must create your own opportunity to make a move.

Edgecombe, a rookie from Baylor University, first hit a difficult mid-range jumper, and then scored a layup with his left hand. On the other side, All-Star guard Maxi used his speed to break through and get to the basket, then hit a turnaround jumper.

The confrontation was fierce and full of physical collisions. More importantly, such sparring had considerable reference value. It mainly tested the players' ability to still create scoring opportunities for themselves under time pressure and limited space. This is often the standard for star players.

For the new season, the Philadelphia 76ers' new lineup still has some problems to be solved. Whether Edgecombe can serve as a stable starter for a season is still unknown. This part mainly depends on the decision after Embiid and George return to full health, and it also depends on how coach Nurse can match the most suitable combination in 48 minutes.

But one thing is undisputed:

As the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Edgecombe will get plenty of playing time in the new season and is bound to become a key season puzzle for the 76ers. From summer league, to one-on-one training with Maxey, to the preseason game against the Knicks, and the season opener, the rookie's upper limit is enough to leave no room for doubt.

From Long Island Lutheran High School, to Baylor University, and then to the NBA, his athletic talent has long been an old topic. Now that he can perform at a historical level in his career opening game, it is actually not surprising.

But what really gives him a chance to establish himself in this 76ers team are the parts that are less talked about.

Considering his current age, Edgecombe has shown an ability to hold the ball in pick-and-rolls beyond expectations, and his dribbling reading and ball distribution options are also much more mature than expected.

He can show his talent when the team switches offense and defense, whether it is finishing or attacking with the ball. For a defender, talent is one of his abilities.

Even if there are still flaws, he can create a lot of talent impact on the court, which is what the 76ers lacked last season. This team lacked athleticism last season, and Edgecombe happens to be one of the most explosive players in this draft.

Go back to the summer league, when he was still sweating profusely on the court at the University of Utah. After Edgecombe trained with the Summer League lineup, the players practiced shooting as usual. But while everyone else had left, Edgecombe stayed on for an extra round of impromptu drills with the team's assistant coaches and player development specialists.

There are two things worthy of attention:

First, his professional attitude fully confirms the evaluation of each team before the draft, which is also one of the key reasons why he can stand out in the draft and rank third overall;

Second, this rookie knows very well where he needs to improve: especially in shooting.

Judging from his pre-draft performance, the key skills that will determine Edgecombe's future ceiling mainly come from shooting and movement control. His shooting performance is good when he can catch the ball in a fixed spot, but it can become inconsistent when it comes to shooting on the move. The dribbling at this stage is also at a qualified level, but to become the league's top defender, he must be able to break through with the ball and create scoring space under high-pressure defense. This aspect still needs to be improved.

Take Mitchell as an example. When this explosive guard first entered the league, his dribbling ability was not top-notch. However, in his fifth year, he gradually transformed into the league's top scorer with his dribbling, shooting and footsteps. Although his initial explosive power has begun to decline, it is difficult to shake his core position in the team.

From this perspective, Edgecomb can regard Mitchell as a learning target, and while he still has top athletic ability, he can upgrade his technique and game reading ability simultaneously as much as possible.

Compared to before he landed in the league, the NBA's wider offensive space is actually an advantage for Edgecombe. Even if his shooting is still in the adjustment stage, opponents can't really restrict his breakthrough on the defensive end. His first step is fast enough and explosive enough.

This is why his impression in Philadelphia is good enough. After joining the team, he has a low-key attitude and plays hard. Although his talent is outstanding, he also shows a blue-collar temperament. He has just started the game and has become a very popular new face in the team.