What chance does 76ers' VJ Edgecombe have at Rookie of the Year award?

USA Today

2 days ago

The 2025-26 season is expected to be a bounce back one for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers finished a dreadful 24-58 in 2024-25 as injuries decimated the roster and it produced the No. 3 pick in the draft.
With that selection, the Sixers went with Baylor star VJ Edgecombe. The expectation is that he will step in and produce at a high level right away and give Philadelphia the athleticism and production it needs on both ends of the floor.
With that being said, Edgecombe is entering a unique situation. While the Sixers had a tough season, they will be looking to contend for a championship in the 2025-26 season if their star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey is healthy. The Sixers will be looking to those three to guide them to a championship. Therefore, while Edgecombe will be a part of the rotation, he isn't going to be a huge part of the game plan.
ESPN projected the 2026 Rookie of the Year winner will be Cooper Flagg who went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks. However, guys like Edgecombe, and others like Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey and San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper will certainly have a chance at winning the award. It will depend on numbers, though, and Edgecombe is less likely to put up big numbers in his situation in Philadelphia compared to a guy like Bailey, for example, who will have that chance in Utah.
Either way, the Sixers expect Edgecombe to step in and give them some production to help turn things around. Obviously, this roster is better than 24-58 and the Sixers will be relying on being both healthy and the additions they made to get back on the path of contention.