The Philadelphia 76ers are aiming to turn the page after a disappointing 2024-25 season that fell well short of expectations. With hopes of avoiding another underwhelming campaign, newly acquired star Paul George believes the franchise may have struck gold in the NBA Draft—potentially landing their next Jimmy Butler.
That player is none other than VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, who turned heads during the 76ers’ Summer League matchup against the Utah Jazz. Despite the narrow four-point loss, Edgecombe delivered an eye-catching performance, finishing with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, along with two blocks and a steal.
“He got that dog in him. Watching him, it was like watching a young Jimmy,” George said on his show, Podcast P with Paul George. “He moves like Jimmy. Kind of has that mid-range tenacity. He’s kind of got a lot of the Jimmy likeness to him, so he’s definitely going to be good”.
George continued to praise Edgecombe, who played college ball at Baylor, for his presence on both ends of the floor and his poise in decision-making situations—traits rare for a rookie.
“I thought he looked good. I thought he looked good on both ends of the floor. He showed flashes of stardom. I love the poise and patience in the pick and roll. That’s not something that comes natural, especially for young guys that aren’t point guards,” George said.
The Sixers star even suggested that Philadelphia had already seen enough to consider shutting the rookie down for the remainder of Summer League action, after just one game.
“I saw him reading when to come off fast. Kind of hesi off of the pick and roll. Getting downhill, he’s got his little Patton one-two spin turnaround jumper. There was just a lot of poise-ness around him. I thought he had a great showing. Like enough for Philly to shut him down, the rest of the summer league,” he added.
Edgecombe’s debut has given the 76ers and their fans reason to believe the team has found a high-impact player who can truly help Tyrese Maxey and PG on the field—someone who, in George’s eyes, mirrors the mindset and style of Butler’s early career.