Latest news with #RookieWire
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
VJ Edgecombe reveals why he chose to wear a rare jersey number with the Sixers
After wearing No. 7 at Baylor University, Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe will begin his career by donning a number never previously worn by a player in franchise history. Edgecombe was forced to choose a new number because No. 7 is currently occupied by 19-year veteran Kyle Lowry, who re-signed with the Sixers on July 7. With his favorite number off the board, Edgecombe opted to go with 77. The third overall pick will be the first Sixers player to wear No. 77, according to Basketball-Reference. Only 23 players in history have gone with that number, including Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and Toronto Raptors guard Jamison Battle. 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 Bahamian guard 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. Edgecombe told teammate Paul George on "Podcast P" that he'd stick with No. 77 should he win Rookie of the Year or if the Sixers win the title next season. Currently boasting the third-best odds to win the annual award, Edgecombe may be wearing that number for a long time. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. Previous: Cooper Flagg | Dylan Harper This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Sixers news: VJ Edgecombe reveals why he'll wear a rare jersey number
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jazz rookie Ace Bailey pays tribute to family member with jersey number choice
After wearing the same jersey number in high school and college, Ace Bailey will have a new look to begin his rookie campaign in the NBA with the Utah Jazz. Bailey donned No. 4 at McEachern High School and Rutgers University before the Jazz selected him with the fifth pick in the draft. With No. 4 retired by the Jazz to honor Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, Bailey will wear No. 19 next season. The soon-to-be 19-year-old had a few different options to choose from with the Jazz, but elected for No. 19 to pay tribute to his grandmother, who died in 2021. He is the sixth player in franchise history to wear that number, according to Basketball-Reference. Bailey was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season at Rutgers, averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and one steal on 34.6% shooting from 3-point range. He ranked ninth among all freshmen in points (527) and 10th in rebounds (215). The 6-foot-8 forward debuted with the Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League, averaging 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists in two games. He was limited to those two appearances because of a hip injury and didn't suit up for the team in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bailey enters next season with the fourth-highest odds of winning Rookie of the Year. He will have tremendous expectations as a top-five pick and will do so with a new jersey number. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. Previous: Cooper Flagg | Dylan Harper | VJ Edgecombe | Kon Knueppel This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Jazz news: Ace Bailey pays tribute to family member with jersey number
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cooper Flagg is paying homage with Mavericks jersey number selection
After joining the Dallas Mavericks on June 25, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg opted to return to his original jersey number worn up until last season at Duke. Flagg wore No. 32 at Nokomis Regional High School in Maine and the Montverde Academy in Central Florida. He was forced to change it to No. 2 when he began his freshman campaign in Durham, since it is retired to honor two-time NCAA champion Christian Laettner. The 18-year-old chose to don No. 2 with the Blue Devils to honor a friend who died from brain cancer in November 2022 at 19 years old. He made the switch back to No. 32 because his mother, Kelly, wore it while playing in high school. "My mom wore 32 when she was in high school, and that was always her number," Flagg said in a video posted by the Mavericks on X. "She had teammates in college that wore it, so she didn't wear it in college. She wore it in high school, so that's really why." Flagg was the AP national college player of the year after leading Duke to the Final Four, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks on 38.5% shooting from 3-point range. He became the 22nd player in program history to be a consensus first-team All-American. The 6-foot-8 Maine native debuted with the Mavericks in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 35.7% shooting from the field. He produced 31 points in his second and final appearance on July 12. Flagg paid great homage to his high school friend at Duke with No. 2, and will now be playing in front of his mother, wearing her number again, beginning next season with the Mavericks. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Mavericks news: Cooper Flagg pays homage with jersey number selection
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pelicans' Jeremiah Fears reveals origin behind No. 0 jersey selection
Jeremiah Fears is set to begin his career with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the seventh pick is likely on the verge of having one of the best-selling jerseys among rookies in the NBA. Fears revealed last month that he wore No. 2 throughout most of his basketball career. He was forced to change when he arrived at the University of Oklahoma last year, since senior guard Brycen Goodine had already claimed it entering the season. The 18-year-old ultimately decided on wearing No. 0 with the Sooners, playing into the "Zero Fears" jersey number-name combination. He immediately fell in love with it. "Once I got to college, somebody already had two, so I'm like, 'I can't get that number,"' Fears said. "They told me all the numbers that were available, and I'm like, 'Zero; Agent Zero.' Then people started going with 'Zero Fears,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, that is crazy; that is dope.' I just continued to wear zero, and hopefully, throughout my whole career, I'll have zero, as well." Fears was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team last season, averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 43.4% shooting from the field in 34 games. He ranked seventh in the conference in scoring and seventh among all freshmen in the country. The 6-foot-4 standout debuted with the Pelicans in the NBA Summer League, averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals on 40% shooting from the field in five appearances. He finished off his stay in the desert with a 22-point, seven-rebound effort on July 18. Fears enters the season with the seventh-best odds of winning Rookie of the Year. He is expected to play an integral role with the Pelicans and will do so with a familiar look on the court. Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA. Previous: Cooper Flagg | Dylan Harper | VJ Edgecombe | Kon Knueppel | Ace Bailey | Tre Johnson This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Pelicans news: Jeremiah Fears reveals origin behind No. 0 selection
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA Summer League: Tracking where prospects will play
The 2025 NBA draft is officially completed, with 59 players hearing their names called in a two-night format for the second straight year at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. While those players established themselves as draft picks, dozens of other prospects who weren't selected have started signing with teams as free agents. Those players have started to reach contract agreements with their new teams since the conclusion of the draft. Summer league begins on July 5 with the California Classic, featuring three days of games between four teams at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Salt Lake City Summer League also begins on July 5, with a similar three-day, four-team format. Related 2025 NBA draft: Tracking the top undrafted free agent signings The league will then converge in Nevada, with every team participating in the NBA Summer League July 10-20 on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Teams will play at least five games each between the Thomas & Mack Center and the Pavilion. Rookie Wire looked at each team and where their summer league rosters stand after the conclusion of the draft. The list includes players who have been publicly announced or those obtained by Rookie Wire through sources and other reporting. Note: The list includes drafted players unless it was otherwise announced or reported they will not play. Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors The Warriors on June 29 announced the following roster for the California Classic: Houston Rockets Indiana Pacers LA Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks New Orleans Pelicans New York Knicks Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings San Antonio Spurs Toronto Raptors Utah Jazz Washington Wizards
