Edgecombe shows knack for doing ‘whatever it takes’ on 1st career game-winner

Edgecombe shows knack for doing ‘whatever it takes’ on 1st career game-winner originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VJ Edgecombe didn’t pause.

For rookies — and for anyone — it’s natural to stop and stare as a crunch-time shot is launched. But the Sixers’ 20-year-old guard saw De’Anthony Melton block Tyrese Maxey’s jumper and reacted first. As is his habit, he knew where to be and was determined to get there.

Advertisement

The result was a first career NBA game-winner, a put-back layup with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Despite blowing a 24-point lead Thursday night to the Warriors, the high-drama Sixers sit at 12-9.

Edgecombe’s vital rebound was no fluke. He’s grabbed 1.9 offensive rebounds per game — second among rookies to 7-foot-1 Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner — and has at least one offensive board in 16 of his 18 games.

“I’m athletic,” he said. “Just try to use my athleticism. The shot goes up, people tend to relax. I’m a victim of it. So I know the opportunity is going to present itself for me to grab the board. And like I said, I can jump, so I just try to jump before them, to be honest.”

Maxey sat to Edgecombe’s left at the postgame press conference podium. Instead of being grateful after Edgecombe’s put-back and celebrating a presumed win, he chased down Melton and blocked his layup attempt on the other end at the buzzer.

“Rese probably ran a 4.2 (40-yard dash) or something,” Edgecombe said with a smile.

Advertisement

Maxey enjoyed swatting his good friend and former teammate, who returned Thursday from a torn ACL.

“Honestly, I just didn’t want him to call me in a couple minutes saying he beat us,” Maxey said of Melton. “I’m just happy to see him out there. He was at my house for two, three hours yesterday just chopping it up and talking about life. … I told him I’d give him one jump shot because he was struggling early. I gave him one middie in the third. But I’m just happy that out he was out there, man. It was good to see him. I told him he can’t guard me, so it’s all good.”

While Maxey continued to be a scorching scorer, posting 35…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/edgecombe-shows-knack-doing-whatever-085959333.html

Author :

Publish date : 2025-12-05 08:59:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.