76ers have new version of Jimmy Butler? Paul George has bold thoughts about rookie VJ Edgecombe
Assuming their top players can stay healthy, the 76ers are hoping to get back to being a playoff team and force in the East next season. That is why the organization was willing to take on a talented project in Edgecombe in June.
Advertisement
While he will not be expected to make a huge impact immediately, George seems to believe he already has the skills to make a difference as a rookie. And compared to him to one of the best winning players of the last decade.
'He got that dog in him. Watching him, it was like watching a young Jimmy,' George said on '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.'
Related: Philadelphia 76ers lose potential Paul George trade partner after this blockbuster deal
In his Summer League debut, oddly enough against Bailey and the Utah Jazz, Edgecombe immediately had a strong performance. Posting 28 points and 10 boards. That performance really impressed the nine-time All-Star, and he offered even more praise for the young guard.
Advertisement
'He was able to get to his midi, able to see space on the floor, and was spacing behind the 3-point line. He was attacking in transition. Like there's just so much space for guys when you cross over from college to the NBA,' he said.
'And I thought he put it all out on display. He showed flashes of stardom. I love the poise and patience in the pick and roll,' he added. 'That's not something that comes natural. Especially for young guys that aren't point guards. I saw him reading when to come off fast. Getting downhill, he's got his little Patton one-two spin turnaround jumper. I thought he had a great showing. Like enough for Philly to shut him down, the rest of the summer league.'
Related: Quentin Grimes may have priced himself out of Philadelphia 76ers' range
Related Headlines
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Isiah Thomas recalled a high school Kevin Garnett dominating in a pick-up game vs. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen: "It was one of the most poetic, beautiful experiences I had"
Isiah Thomas recalled a high school Kevin Garnett dominating in a pick-up game vs. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen: "It was one of the most poetic, beautiful experiences I had" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Kevin Garnett's leap from high school straight into the NBA in 1995 wasn't a gamble but a moment that had been simmering behind the curtain for years, witnessed by those who could already see the future. One of them was NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, whose history in the game goes beyond his playing days and deep into the fabric of talent evaluation and legacy-building. Thomas' observation Thomas was no longer donning the Detroit Pistons jersey but navigating the infancy of the Toronto Raptors. His eye was cast far and wide for someone who could serve as the soul of a new franchise. And then came Garnett. "I had targeted him as the person that I wanted to draft and start our franchise with," Thomas said of Garnett. "Being in his presence... it was overwhelming. You felt his energy, his intensity, his passion, his love for his craft in high school, beyond anybody else who was in the gym." "It was one of the most poetic, beautiful experiences I had had or felt from a young player," he added. This wasn't flowery praise. It was a window into the exact kind of conviction that defined Thomas as both a player and an executive. He saw Garnett not just as a talented big man but as a force of nature in motion. The gym where this impression was cemented wasn't just any gym. It was in Chicago, and the pickup game featured none other than Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, two icons who had already rewritten the rules of excellence by then. Thomas, who grew up on the west side of Chicago himself, knew exactly what a gym like that meant. Those kinds of gyms had always birthed legends, men whose names lived on in whispered stories long after the lights dimmed. Garnett walked into that same space with no professional contract, shoe deal and draft buzz. Just raw will. What Garnett did in that pickup game was not merely impressive; it shifted the temperature in the room. He didn't defer. He didn't ask for space. He took it. The game, according to Thomas, was supposed to showcase dominance, not discover it. Yet he made the kind of statement that validated every whisper coming out of Farragut wasn't waiting for permission In 1995, Garnett became the first player in two decades to leap from high school straight into the league. The last to do so had been Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby in 1975. The landscape had changed dramatically since then, with the league having become far more technical, media-dense and physically unforgiving. For Garnett to enter through that door meant he had to redefine what readiness looked like. The 1995 draft eventually saw the Minnesota Timberwolves take him with the fifth overall pick. Thomas didn't get his man. But the memory remained. That moment in Chicago, that burst of energy and purpose, stuck with him, not just as a scout or executive but as someone who had lived through every kind of basketball war and still felt something new that day. Isiah already understood that Garnett's greatness was never theoretical. It had already been tested, in a no-frills gym with Jordan and Pippen on the floor, where reputations are either built or burned. What made Garnett stand out was talent and the refusal to be intimidated by proximity to greatness. That defiance would become his signature. In Boston, it would show up in his defensive scowls and locker-room sermons. In Minnesota, it would fuel his loyalty through years of franchise hardship. The high schooler Thomas once watched in a Chicago gym had become the blueprint for the next generation of prep-to-pro stars: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard. But even among them, Garnett was different. He hadn't walked through the NBA's doors quietly; he had kicked them story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lakers jersey history No. 0 — Jalen Hood-Schifino
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. We now take a look at Jalen Hood-Schifino, who played a season and change with the Lakers very recently. Hood-Schifino, a 6-foot-5 guard, played one season in the NCAA at Indiana University and averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game while shooting 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. The Lakers took him with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which made some scratch their heads, especially since the team wasn't in great need of guard help. He struggled a lot as a rookie and went back and forth between the NBA and the G League. While in the big leagues, he got just 5.2 minutes a game, mostly in garbage time, and had tons of trouble getting any shots to fall, as evidenced by his 22.2% shooting percentage. In 15 games with the South Bay Lakers, he put up 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game and shot 47.3% overall and 43.2% from downtown. On Feb. 1, 2025, Los Angeles traded Hood-Schifino to the Utah Jazz as part of the three-team deal that brought it Luka Doncic. He was waived shortly afterward and signed a two-way contract a few weeks later with the Philadelphia 76ers. With the 76ers dealing with lots of injuries, Hood-Schifino got 23.2 minutes a game of playing time with them, but he didn't take advantage, as he shot just 37.1% overall and 30.4% from beyond the arc. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 0 — Jalen Hood-Schifino
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Where Could LeBron James Go Next? Top Landing Spots If He Leaves Lakers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers appear headed for a split at some point in the future. Whether that split comes before or during the 2025-26 NBA season or next offseason in free agency, the end seems to be near. The most likely scenario is that James plays out the final year of his contract with the Lakers and either retires or players elsewhere next season. He would enter the 2026 NBA offseason as a free agent. However, there is a chance that Los Angeles could find a trade partner for James that makes sense for the team. Or, there is a small chance that the Lakers could buy James out, although that seems extremely unlikely. LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks across the court in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks across the court in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 29, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo byWith that being said, the other question becomes, where could James play next? What teams could make sense as both a trade destination or a free agency landing spot next offseason? Read more: Warriors' Steph Curry Gets Honest About Future Retirement Potential LeBron James Trade Destinations There are only a couple of places that could make sense as a trade destination for James. Even then, the teams may not have interest in parting ways with what it would take to acquire James. Dallas Mavericks One of those teams is the Mavericks. They have been linked to James on multiple occasions. Kyrie Irving is one of the faces of the franchise and he is close friends with James. The two have talked about reuniting at some point in time. Dallas has the contracts necessary to pull off a trade for James, but it wouldn't be easy. New York Knicks Another potential option would be the Knicks, who have plenty of big salaries that they could match for James. New York might have interest in bringing in a superstar like James, but the team isn't far off from being a championship contender. Read more: Los Angeles Lakers Exec Makes Strong Statement About LeBron James Following their run to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks might prefer to keep their core intact. Trading for James would require a major breakup. 2026 Potential Free Agency Suitors This would be the most likely route for James' departure from Los Angeles. If he does hit the open free agency market next offseason and wants to keep playing, teams could show heavy interest in signing him. Cleveland Cavaliers One team to monitor would be the Cavaliers. They have been linked to having interest in a third stint with James, but they aren't among the teams who would have interest in trading for him. Depending on the price tag, James finishing out his career where it started would likely be an interesting option. Being able to play alongside of Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley could be a major draw for him as well. Read more: 76ers' Free Agent Quentin Grimes Linked to Western Conference Team Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry and James pairing up would be a dream come true for both players. The Warriors have reportedly considered pursuing a trade for James in the past. Both players are nearing the end of their respective careers. Pairing up and making a run at it together would be must-watch basketball. It's an option worth monitoring should he hit the free agency market. Teaming Up with Bryce James Finally, James has already been able to play on the same team as Bronny James with the Lakers. Bryce James will be draft eligible next offseason and he might have interest in playing with his younger son. Read more: Bulls Receive Disappointing Nikola Vucevic Update: Report Whoever drafts Bryce would have a chance to land James. Whether or not he will enter the 2026 NBA Draft remains to be seen, but that would be a situation to watch closely if he does. For more on the Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
