Latest news with #PodcastP
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sixers rookie weighs in on Damian Lillard's shot over Paul George
VJ Edgecombe used to think THAT Dame shot was game, but he changed his mind 😂👀"That's a good shot ... but it's over my teammate, so it's a bad shot." When it comes to Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George, many will bring up his own impressive accolades such as being named an All-Star nine times or leading the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals twice and the Los Angeles Clippers to their only conference finals appearance in 2021. However, there is a section of fans that will bring up the time Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard drilled a deep fallaway 3-pointer at the buzzer over George to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 playoffs. A shot in which George labeled "a bad shot" when it was all over and done with. Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe hopped on the latest episode of "Podcast P with Paul George" and admitted that he's a huge fan of Lillard's and the two actually have a relationship. He then gave his thoughts on Lillard's shot over George to beat the Thunder: That's a good shot. It's so crazy. I know the back story about it, so I guess he was working on that shot the night before. He's working on that exact shot. Why not shoot it? I mean, he do shoot from there. It ain't like he don't shoot from there. After George explained himself even further and gave Lillard his credit, Edgecombe did double back and stuck up for his new teammate: It's over my teammate, though. So it's a bad shot. (Which then drew laughs from everybody in the room). Edgecombe will look to make an impact with the Sixers as he begins his first go-around in the NBA in the 2025-26 season.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe reveals who he patterns his game after
Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe, selected No. 3 overall in the 2025 draft, is looking to make an impact in the City of Brotherly Love right away. He has the athleticism, defensive skills, and finishing ability on offense to where he can produce at a high level right away. Even though he only played two games in the summer league as he was limited to a left thumb sprain, he showed what he is able to do at a high level. Edgecombe showed off an ability to get to the basket--and the free-throw line--as well as make an impact on the glass and to be able to produce on both ends of the floor. He looks like a two-way player right away. On the latest episode of "Podcast P with Paul George", Edgecombe spoke with his new teammate about the players he patterns his game after: (Victor) Oladipo when he was with the Pacers. D-Wade (Dwyane Wade). I watch, like, currently in the league, I watch a lot of Ant (Anthony Edwards). I watch a lot of Ant, but I watch everybody for real. Like, I watch defensive clips. I'm watching Jrue Holiday, Derrick White. Like, I'm watching them! Just trying to learn both ends of the floor. So, yeah, they're amazing. If Edgecombe is watching guys like Oladipo and Wade--which, by the way, was the exact NBA comparisons Sixers Wire made for Edgecombe--then he is going to be in a great position. It's obvious that he wants to learn and be a great player in this league and watching and learning from some of the game's greats is only going to help him move forward as a young player in this league.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sixers' VJ Edgecombe issues statement to Philadelphia in Players' Tribune entry
Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe expressed his excitement to join the organization and the City of Brotherly Love in a written entry on The Players' Tribune. Edgecombe was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, averaging 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals on 34% shooting from 3-point range at Baylor. He finished in double figures 27 times, including a season-high 30 points on Jan. 22 in a win over Kansas State. The 6-foot-5 standout has had a brief opportunity to ingratiate himself with the team and city since becoming the third pick in the 2025 NBA draft on June 25. He detailed that experience, along with other topics, in the article released Wednesday on his 20th birthday. The journey has been crazy, man. It's just surreal. Philly, I'm proud to be one of you, now. Thank you to the 76ers organization for giving me the opportunity. I couldn't be more grateful to be here. Now, I've gotten the chance to explore a little bit. I've had some Philly cheesesteaks. I've run up the Rocky steps. I'm just getting comfortable and getting my bearings. But I'm really looking forward to earning your respect, and the respect of my teammates and coaches. I'm just trying to be a sponge and learn and absorb, and hopefully get better. Edgecombe debuted with the Sixers in the NBA Summer League, averaging 21.5 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and 1.5 blocks on 42.5% shooting from the field. He was limited to two appearances due to a left thumb sprain. The Bahamian guard had the opportunity to meet teammate Paul George after appearing on the latest episode of "Podcast P" released on Monday. George told Edgecombe that he believes he can contribute next season and help the Sixers win based on his dynamic skill set and ability. Edgecombe has the potential to play a large role with the Sixers next season as a player who can affect games on both sides of the ball. Based on his latest letter penned on The Players' Tribune, Edgecombe appears to be ready to get to work.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
VJ Edgecombe jokingly defends Paul George for 'bad shot' comment on Damian Lillard
Years later, Paul George's comments after Damian Lillard's biggest career shot continue to cloud over him. As he welcomed VJ Edgecombe to the Philadelphia 76ers, the rookie was asked his thoughts on the biggest moment his multi-time All-Star teammate was part of. Let's rewind to six years ago — which is an eternity in the NBA. With a chance to close the Oklahoma City Thunder out in five games, Lillard scored 50 points and hit a deep 3-point game-winner against George to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a Round 1 series win. It's one of the biggest buckets in recent playoff history. Nothing can really beat a deep 3-pointer to send your opponent home. Especially against somebody who finished third in MVP voting that season. Lillard was rushed by his teammates and looked at the camera with a stone-cold face. Afterward, George added to the moment. He called Lillard's game-winner a "bad shot." He argued he could've found a better quality look in the final seconds instead of letting the final seconds tick away to attempt a ridiculously deep outside shot. While George may be right in a vacuum, fans across the league mocked him. He was criticized for the comment and was cited as being hurt about what had just transpired. After all, emotions are high when you get bounced out of the playoffs again in disappointing fashion. That would be the final game George would play for the Thunder. He was shockingly traded to the LA Clippers a couple of months later. Russell Westbrook was also traded to the Houston Rockets. The Thunder blew up their core and entered a rebuild that centered around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As we know, that eventually led to an NBA championship — something Lillard has yet to accomplish. One of those fans who likely ran around their living rooms in shock from Lillard's game-winner was George's new teammate, Edgecombe. The 19-year-old was in middle school when it happened. He went on the "Podcast P with Paul George" show to dissect the shot as a Lillard fan. "That's a good shot... But it's over my teammate, so it's a bad shot," Edgecombe said with a smile. That's one way to gain rapport with your Sixers teammate. All these years later, George has stuck by his original answer. He even broke it down again on his podcast by adding context to what he meant. "Obviously, I know how elite he is, his range. Obviously, he could shoot that s--- effortlessly. I wasn't coming off or trying to be a hater on that specifically," George said. "It was a bad shot in terms of like I felt the clock's running down. He could've drove me back and took a 3-pointer closer in... It's a legacy shot for sure." It's funny to see how much of a ripple effect Lillard's game-winner had. It indirectly jump-started the Thunder's current NBA championship and has stuck with George for all of the wrong reasons as one of his career-defining moments.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Paul George tells rookie VJ Edgecombe why he's perfect fit for Sixers
Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe is looking to start his NBA career off on the right foot in the 2025-26 season. The No. 3 overall pick in the draft is heading into a terrific situation as he can learn from top talents such as Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers are in a unique position as a team that can contend for a title in the upcoming season despite finishing 24-58 the season before. If this team is healthy--which is, of course, a big if--then they can compete with anybody in the Eastern Conference and move past Round 2 for the first time since 2001. George believes Edgecombe is a great fit for the Sixers as he told his rookie teammate on the latest episode of "Podcast P with Paul George": I think that's what we need. You bring what we need. We need more defenders. We need athleticism. We need flyers. We want to play that fast, up tempo style of basketball. So we need that. You know what I mean? I think you, you're ready. Like, you're play now, ready now basketball, so you're gonna fit right in with what we doing. We got a bunch of talent. You got youth with you, Tyrese, Jared (McCain), Justin (Edwards), Kelly's (Oubre Jr.) still young. So we still got fresh young legs. There's only a couple old (expletives) on the team. So you bring an element that we need, though, and as a rookie, don't come in on some 'I just want to fit in.' Like, bring what you do. Be you. Be you. We gonna adapt to you. Edgecombe showed off what he can do in his brief summer league appearances. He was limited to only two games in the summer league due to a sprained left thumb, but the young guard showed off his electric style of play on both ends of the floor. The Sixers have been in need of a guard who can produce on both ends and he fits that bill. As long as George, Embiid, and Maxey are healthy, Edgecombe and the Sixers can make a splash in the coming season.
