Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe delivered two late, decisive plays on Friday night at the Intuit Dome to carry Team Vince to victory in the NBA Rising Stars festivities. Edgecombe hit a go-ahead jumper in the first game and later sealed the bracket final with clinching free throws, finishing with 23 of Team Vince’s 55 points across the night. His back-to-back heroics earned him Rising Stars MVP honors and underscored a strong rookie season in which he ranks third among peers in both points and assists per game. The event used a four-team bracket format: first-to-40 semifinals and a first-to-25 final.
Key Takeaways
- VJ Edgecombe scored 23 points across two Rising Stars games, accounting for 42% of Team Vince’s 55 total points.
- He scored 17 points in the semifinal, including the game-winning stepback jumper over Memphis guard Cam Spencer.
- The bracket format featured three NBA rookies/young players teams and one G League all-star team; semifinals were first-to-40, final first-to-25.
- Edgecombe’s final action was clinched from the free-throw line after drawing a foul from Portland center Donovan Clingan.
- Edgecombe was Team Vince’s first selection in the draft that set Rising Stars rosters; Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel was selected one spot behind him.
- Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg (the Team Melo first overall draft pick) withdrew with a foot sprain; Washington’s Alex Sarr also missed the event.
- Edgecombe was named the Rising Stars MVP for his combined performances across both games.
Background
The Rising Stars Challenge returned this year in a four-team knockout format designed to showcase top young NBA talent alongside standouts from the G League. The structure, used again after previous iterations, stages two first-to-40 semifinal games followed by a shorter first-to-25 final to encourage faster, high-energy play. Rosters were determined by a pre-game draft, with veteran alumni captains selecting teams; Team Vince used its first pick on 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe.
The event is staged as part of the NBA All-Star weekend and is intended both as a development showcase and fan-entertainment platform. Attendance and broadcast interest tend to spike when rookies produce dramatic, game-clinching moments, which historically boost a young player’s profile and media coverage. That dynamic was on display Friday as Edgecombe converted two late-game sequences that decided outcomes in both his appearances.
Main Event
In the semifinal first-to-40 contest, Edgecombe paced Team Vince with 17 points and delivered the decisive shot late — a stepback jumper over Cam Spencer of the Memphis Grizzlies that put his team ahead. The shot broke a close contest against Team T-Mac and stood up as the game-winner. Edgecombe’s quick scoring bursts and ball-handling in transition were focal points of Team Vince’s attack during the semifinal.
The final was tightly contested between Team Vince and Team Melo, with neither team able to create a sustained lead. San Antonio rookie Dylan Harper led Team Melo in the final with eight points and five rebounds, but overall scoring was low in the truncated first-to-25 format. The decisive sequence came when Edgecombe drew a foul on Portland big man Donovan Clingan late in the game and converted the resulting free throws to secure the victory.
There was a brief skirmish of strategy on the sideline when Vince Carter appeared to suggest the final play should be reviewed rather than decided by free throws, approaching Carmelo Anthony to indicate his view that the call might be questionable. Team Melo, however, had no timeouts left and could not stop the clock or successfully challenge the sequence. The combination of Edgecombe’s shot-making and the procedural circumstances finalized Team Vince’s narrow win.
Analysis & Implications
Edgecombe’s performance advances several narratives about his rookie season. First, producing clutch moments in a national showcase raises a player’s reputation among peers, coaching staffs and fans; being named MVP further cements that perception. For the 76ers, Edgecombe’s ability to score in late-game situations offers a glimpse of potential two-way contributions in pressure moments, though All-Star exhibition play differs from regular-season and playoff contexts.
From a roster-building perspective, the Rising Stars draft mechanics — with made-for-TV selections by alumni captains — spotlight how teams value creating storylines and highlighting specific prospects. Edgecombe, selected just ahead of Kon Knueppel, gained additional narrative momentum because the two rookies were chosen in consecutive slots, and both delivered notable moments during the games. That proximity in draft order and performance could influence media comparisons and early season coverage of the rookie class.
Injury absences also shaped the weekend. Cooper Flagg, the pick taken first in the draft for Team Melo, withdrew with a foot sprain, removing a high-profile prospect from the bracket and slightly diminishing the event’s star power. Alex Sarr’s absence reduced big-man representation. The withdrawals underscore the NBA’s ongoing balance between showcasing talent and protecting health late in the season.
Comparison & Data
| Game | Edgecombe Points | Team Vince Score | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal | 17 | — (first-to-40) | First-to-40 |
| Final | 6 | 55 total (final first-to-25) | First-to-25 |
| Total Night | 23 | 55 | Two-game bracket |
The table shows Edgecombe’s scoring split across the two games (17 in the semifinal, implied 6 in the final for a 23-point total) and the event’s two pacing formats. The first-to-40 semifinals allow extended runs and higher individual totals; the shorter final truncates individual scoring opportunities, making late-game possessions more consequential.
Reactions & Quotes
“He showed up when it mattered.”
Vince Carter (on Edgecombe’s late plays, paraphrased)
“This kind of performance raises his profile among coaches and broadcasters.”
NBA analyst (paraphrase)
“Fans online celebrated the clutch moments and the MVP selection.”
Social reaction, summarized
Unconfirmed
- Exact lineup and rotation plans for the 76ers after All-Star break are not confirmed and may change based on coaching decisions and health status.
- Details on Cooper Flagg’s expected recovery timeline beyond the foot sprain reported remain to be officially disclosed by his team.
- Any official challenge or review related to the final foul sequence was not publicly detailed beyond the in-arena exchanges and will require league confirmation.
Bottom Line
VJ Edgecombe’s two late-game sequences at the Intuit Dome turned a showcase weekend into a personal highlight reel, earning him Rising Stars MVP and a higher profile heading into the remainder of his rookie campaign. The performances reinforced his reputation as a clutch scorer in exhibition settings and provided the 76ers a positive narrative to build on.
While the All-Star showcase is not a substitute for regular-season or playoff evaluation, Edgecombe’s night — framed by a draft pick story and timely scoring — will likely draw more attention from commentators, fans and front offices. The absences of Cooper Flagg and Alex Sarr muted some of the event’s depth, but Edgecombe’s MVP-worthy moments ensured Team Vince left the Intuit Dome as the headline of the Rising Stars bracket.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — Sports journalism report on the Rising Stars games (media)