Club 520 Podcast - VJ Edgecombe on NBA Draft, Tyrese Maxey, 76ers, Rising Stars MVP

Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: Jeff Teague, DJ Wells, Bishop B Henn
Guest: VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers rookie)

Episode Overview

This lively All-Star Weekend episode features special guest VJ Edgecombe, the standout rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. The hosts dive into VJ’s journey from high school through his NBA debut, his draft experience, adjusting to the league, and life as part of a stacked Sixers team. The conversation is fun, candid, and full of basketball insights, locker room stories, and honest takes about league life, team dynamics, and rookie challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dealing With Parlay Hate and Fan Interactions

• [01:23] VJ jokes about fans betting on his performance, saying,

  “It’s been rough. I probably had like 5 points one game. They tell me they’re gonna kill me, bro.” — VJ Edgecombe

• The group laughs about the pressure athletes get from fans invested in sports betting, emphasizing the importance of letting players focus on their craft.

2. VJ’s High School and College Journey

• [04:02] Transitioning from Florida to New York for high school basketball:

  “At first I was a little nervous, though. Cause I’m like, man, I don’t know nobody up here...at the end of the day, I jam that dover thing…so I was just up there hooping.” — VJ Edgecombe

• Received his first college offer during junior year.
• On choosing Baylor:

  “I like Coach Drew...He had a good foundation over there. He just won. And he produced guards, too.” — VJ Edgecombe [05:01]

3. College to Pro: Adjustments & Breakout

• The athleticism jump from high school to college was real:

  “Obviously, I’m athletic, but, you know, you got other kids athletic as hell, too...in college, you know, then you can sit in the paint, too.” — VJ Edgecombe [05:27]

• Initially struggled in college; considered needing another year, but conference play became his breakout (“I was averaging, like, 25. I was like, yeah, I’m going to the league.” [07:47, 08:23])

4. National Team Experience

• [09:04] Playing on the Bahamas national team before college helped him play against professionals early.

  “I was out there with some...so, yeah, I was just hooping at that point, but I was playing against pros. Play Spain, man. They whooped us in Spain, too.” — VJ Edgecombe

• Thought they might qualify for the Olympics: “We just won, like, three, four games straight…then we probably get smoked in the Olympics. But hey, at least we there.” [10:21]

5. NBA Draft Process

• [12:35] VJ was mostly in LA prepping for the draft, but only worked out for the Sixers:

  “I only work out for one team. That was Philly...They got third pick, like, me and Max (Tyrese Maxey) can do some damage for sure.” — VJ Edgecombe [13:14, 13:51]

• Describes the nerves in solo workouts:

  “I never been so nervous, bro. Cause you got the owners, everybody on the baseline, on the sideline, just watching you.” [13:44]

6. Life with the Sixers: Roster, Practice, and Vet Guidance

• [14:53] On team depth and competition:

  “No matter who’s in the lineup, no matter who’s in the game, y’all all get to it. You come out killing. Tyrese Maxey takes his game to the next level.” — Host 3

• Practice intensity:

  “Niggas about to throw hands in there...Me and Reese (Maxey) played ones...First time I really lose ones for real. Damn, that nigga can hoop.” — VJ Edgecombe [15:13–15:31]

• On Joel Embiid:

  “Yo, that’s my dog...He just chill...I never seen someone really that good. He good, bro.” — VJ Edgecombe [15:45–16:00] “If I was about 7 foot, I probably would have been able to guard him, but…he be throwing fouls and all type of different stuff going on.” — VJ Edgecombe [16:09]

• Learning ball-handling and more from veterans like “P2” (Paul George):

  “Just trying to activate a different part of my game, bro...if I’m able to just know I want to get to my spot, just be able to break down.” — VJ Edgecombe [19:10–19:35]

7. NBA Adjustments: Speed, Spacing & Goals

• [19:45] On hardest transition:

  “The pace, bro...It’s fast. That’s more spacing, too.” — VJ Edgecombe

• The impact of spacing in NBA, especially playing alongside Joel, allowed for scoring opportunities as a rookie.
• Goals for the season:

  “Championship. Rookie of the year.” — VJ Edgecombe [20:38–20:46]

8. ‘Welcome to the NBA’ Matchups

• [21:04] On being starstruck and facing top guards:

  “There was a stretch…I went guard Luka to Curry…had to guard Luka, had to guard Shay…D Book…all of them, bro…That was my welcome to the NBA.” — VJ Edgecombe [21:19–21:49] “Ja Morant, bro. I ain’t gonna lie. He had 40.” — VJ Edgecombe [21:51–22:05]

• The hosts confess, “Don’t worry about it. I got 40 put on my head a couple of times, bro.” [22:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fans and gambling:
  “You sold on me, but…I love that you’re just doing your job.” — Host 2 [01:41]
• On embracing his NBA chance:
  “I just gotta get ‘em up…cause, I mean, I don’t want to be nervous. I’m already playing in TD Garden. Boston fans look crazy, too…” — VJ Edgecombe [03:43–03:54]
• On dunking while down big:
  “Bro, I ran so hard to dunk that ball, boy…I sprinted fast as hell…I was coming out of the game anyway. I gotta score. Something gotta go up now.” — VJ Edgecombe [06:44]
• On not having a favorite teammate:
  “They all my dogs.” — VJ Edgecombe [20:01]
• On goals:
  “You don’t think if I’m able to win a rookie year, what if we win the championship, too? That’s two.” — VJ Edgecombe [20:51]
• On rookie ‘wow’ moments:
  “I had to guard Luka, had to guard Shay. Damn, D Book…That was my welcome to the NBA.” — VJ Edgecombe [21:32–21:49]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:23–01:47 — VJ on parlay/gambling fan experiences
• 03:10–04:21 — Rookie year reflections & first NBA game
• 04:21–05:23 — High school/college transition & offers
• 05:27–06:03 — Major difference from high school to Baylor
• 07:47–08:23 — Breakout in college conference play
• 09:04–10:31 — National team experience & facing pros
• 12:35–13:51 — Draft process & Sixers selection
• 14:53–15:38 — Philly team depth, chemistry, and practice battles
• 15:45–16:00 — Playing with Joel Embiid
• 19:10–19:35 — Working with vets and developing handle
• 19:45–20:25 — Adjusting to NBA pace and spacing
• 20:38–20:46 — Season goals: championship, Rookie of the Year
• 21:19–21:49 — Welcome to the league: guarding stars
• 21:51–22:05 — Ja Morant drops 40, rookie realities

Summary

The episode offers an in-depth, humorous, and honest insight into VJ Edgecombe’s journey to the NBA, his learning curve as a rookie, and the culture within a talent-laden Sixers squad. From “parlay hate” and starstruck moments defending NBA greats, to his confidence and ambitions going forward, VJ’s story and personality stand out in this engaging Club 520 episode.