76ers' Edgecombe named Rookie of the Year finalist

Sixers rookie guard V.J. Edgecombe among top 3 candidates for NBA's top rookie award.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 4:50am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball player in motion, with sharp planes of red, blue, and white colors representing the 76ers' uniform.A cubist interpretation of a young NBA star's rise to prominence, deconstructing his dynamic on-court performance.Boston Today

Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard V.J. Edgecombe has been named a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year award, along with Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. Edgecombe, the Sixers' 3rd overall draft pick last year, started 75 games as a rookie and averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Why it matters

Edgecombe's nomination is a significant accomplishment for the Sixers, as he would be the first Philly player to win Rookie of the Year since Ben Simmons in 2016-17. His strong two-way play as a rookie for a playoff team stands out compared to the other finalists on non-playoff squads.

The details

Edgecombe was the 3rd overall pick by the Sixers in last year's NBA Draft. He immediately stepped into a starting role and never looked back, providing the team with solid production on both ends of the floor. His rookie stats of 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game are especially impressive given that he played for a playoff team, unlike the other finalists.

  • Edgecombe was drafted by the Sixers with the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
  • Edgecombe started 75 games for the Sixers during the 2025-26 NBA season.

The players

V.J. Edgecombe

A rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers who was named a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year award after a strong debut season.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie guard for the Dallas Mavericks who was named a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Kon Knueppel

A rookie for the Charlotte Hornets who was named a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

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What’s next

The winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year award will be announced at the annual NBA Awards show in June.

The takeaway

Edgecombe's nomination as a Rookie of the Year finalist is a testament to his strong debut season with the Sixers, and could signal the start of a promising career in Philadelphia. If he wins, he would be the first Sixers player to earn the award since Ben Simmons in 2016-17.