×
VJ Edgecombe’s blocked shot with both hands shows how special NBA rookie class is

VJ Edgecombe’s blocked shot with both hands shows how special NBA rookie class is

Sports news

There are so many good NBA rookies this year that it’s easy to forget about VJ Edgecombe at times. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, and after a red-hot start, he cooled off just enough for his peers Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Kon Knueppel, and Derik Queen to steal the spotlight. Edgecombe is still playing a major role as a rookie for a Sixers team in playoff contention, averaging more than 35 minutes per game while filling the box score in almost every category and hitting 38 percent of his threes so far. The 6’4 guard is still a little rough edges, but you can see the outlines of an impactful two-way starter developing.

Edgecombe’s signature trait is his athleticism, which manifests itself most spectacularly in chasedown blocks. He had some awesome blocks during his lone college season at Baylor, and it’s already showing up on the NBA tape, too. On Thursday, Edgecombe made one of those plays that it feels like only he can make among guards his size.

After Flagg fed teammate Brandon Williams for a breakaway, Edgecombe hunted him down and blocked the shot with his left hand and then his right hand on the same play. Watch it here:

Here’s a better look at the play on the alternate angle:

And here’s the slo-mo view of the block:

Edgecombe is going to be really good eventually, whether he takes a leap as a star or just turns into an upper echelon role player. He’s one of the most athletic players in the league, he’s always competing for steals, blocks, and rebounds, and he can make a catch-and-shoot three. That’s a great foundation to build off of, especially when the coaches already trust him enough to make him No. 11 in the league in minutes per game as a rookie.

It’s wild to think Edgecombe might only be the fifth-best rookie this year. Every pick in the top-4 of the draft order already super impressive, and he’s part of that. Add in Queen and Jeremiah Fears on the Pelicans, Cedric Coward on the Memphis Grizzlies, and obvious sleepers like Ryan Kalkbrenner on the Hornets, and this rookie class is living up to the hype and then some.

The Sixers beat the Mavs on Thursday, Edgecombe out-played Flagg in the battle of top rookies, and he made the best play of the night. The future is bright for Edgecombe.

Source link
#Edgecombes #blocked #shot #hands #shows #special #NBA #rookie #class

Tag

Related Posts

Deadspin | Rivalry continues as Nuggets host Timberwolves for Game 1 Mar 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes the ball in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Denver slugged its way past Minnesota in 2023 on its way to the NBA title. The Timberwolves derailed a Nuggets repeat with a Game 7 upset in 2024. Act III of this sometimes-bitter rivalry kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Denver hosts No. 6 Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Since the calendar turned to 2023 the teams have played 28 times, including the playoffs, and each has won 14 games. The Timberwolves dominated the four regular-season matchups in 2024-25 but the Nuggets took three of the four meetings this season, including an overtime thriller on Christmas night. And there is star power, most notably from Minnesota’s outspoken guard Anthony Edwards and Denver’s more muted triple-double machine Nikola Jokic. Both are expected to play at a high level so the outcome could come down to the supporting cast and injuries. For the Timberwolves, Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have missed time with knee injuries and Naz Reid, one of the many who will try to stop Jokic, has been dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries. The Nuggets have gotten healthier after a season full of injuries. Aaron Gordon played just 36 games due to multiple hamstring injuries and Christian Braun, who will draw the primary assignment on Edwards, was limited to 54 games because of an ankle sprain. Peyton Watson missed 25 of the last 30 games with a hamstring strain, and Spencer Jones missed the last two weeks of the season with the same injury. The status for both for Game 1 is unclear, with head coach David Adelman’s latest update coming Wednesday when he told reporters, “Peyton and Spence both practiced, not contact, all non-contact stuff. Spence did more yesterday, as far as his player development, they look good, but neither guy’s clear as of yet. My hope is they’ll play in Game 1. If not, we’ll play the group that is healthy.” Edwards averaged 30.3 points in three games against Denver this season. Jokic, who averaged a triple-double for the second straight season (27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists), feasted on Minnesota. In four games against the Timberwolves, he averaged 35.8 points, 15 rebounds and 11.3 assists. Minnesota, like every other team, will make containing Jokic a priority. But it won’t be easy. “Probably gotta call God and talk to him for a little bit and ask him for a few favors,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said of guarding Jokic. “It’s going to be a tough matchup. He’s an incredible player.” Jokic leads the NBA’s top-ranked offense that averaged 122.1 points a game and 125 against Minnesota. The Timberwolves gave up an average of 114.6 points this season, which was 12th in the league. Denver retooled its roster in the offseason for another run at a championship. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, and the salary relief led to signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. and trading for Jokic’s backup, Jonas Valanciunas. Brown was on the 2023 team that beat the Timberwolves in the first round and, despite winning in five games, called it the hardest series on the road to the title. Denver is expecting another tough one in 2026, and the sense of urgency is there. “To win a championship, you need the guys to step up at the right moment. If it is not your night one game, it’s OK because the next one is coming soon,” Jokic said. “I think we need everybody on our roster. Everybody needs to step up.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rivalry #continues #Nuggets #host #Timberwolves #GameMar 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes the ball in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Denver slugged its way past Minnesota in 2023 on its way to the NBA title. The Timberwolves derailed a Nuggets repeat with a Game 7 upset in 2024.

Act III of this sometimes-bitter rivalry kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Denver hosts No. 6 Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Since the calendar turned to 2023 the teams have played 28 times, including the playoffs, and each has won 14 games. The Timberwolves dominated the four regular-season matchups in 2024-25 but the Nuggets took three of the four meetings this season, including an overtime thriller on Christmas night.

And there is star power, most notably from Minnesota’s outspoken guard Anthony Edwards and Denver’s more muted triple-double machine Nikola Jokic. Both are expected to play at a high level so the outcome could come down to the supporting cast and injuries.

For the Timberwolves, Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have missed time with knee injuries and Naz Reid, one of the many who will try to stop Jokic, has been dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries.

The Nuggets have gotten healthier after a season full of injuries. Aaron Gordon played just 36 games due to multiple hamstring injuries and Christian Braun, who will draw the primary assignment on Edwards, was limited to 54 games because of an ankle sprain.

Peyton Watson missed 25 of the last 30 games with a hamstring strain, and Spencer Jones missed the last two weeks of the season with the same injury.

The status for both for Game 1 is unclear, with head coach David Adelman’s latest update coming Wednesday when he told reporters, “Peyton and Spence both practiced, not contact, all non-contact stuff. Spence did more yesterday, as far as his player development, they look good, but neither guy’s clear as of yet. My hope is they’ll play in Game 1. If not, we’ll play the group that is healthy.”


Edwards averaged 30.3 points in three games against Denver this season. Jokic, who averaged a triple-double for the second straight season (27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists), feasted on Minnesota. In four games against the Timberwolves, he averaged 35.8 points, 15 rebounds and 11.3 assists.

Minnesota, like every other team, will make containing Jokic a priority. But it won’t be easy.

“Probably gotta call God and talk to him for a little bit and ask him for a few favors,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said of guarding Jokic. “It’s going to be a tough matchup. He’s an incredible player.”

Jokic leads the NBA’s top-ranked offense that averaged 122.1 points a game and 125 against Minnesota. The Timberwolves gave up an average of 114.6 points this season, which was 12th in the league.

Denver retooled its roster in the offseason for another run at a championship. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, and the salary relief led to signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. and trading for Jokic’s backup, Jonas Valanciunas.

Brown was on the 2023 team that beat the Timberwolves in the first round and, despite winning in five games, called it the hardest series on the road to the title.

Denver is expecting another tough one in 2026, and the sense of urgency is there.

“To win a championship, you need the guys to step up at the right moment. If it is not your night one game, it’s OK because the next one is coming soon,” Jokic said. “I think we need everybody on our roster. Everybody needs to step up.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rivalry #continues #Nuggets #host #Timberwolves #Game">Deadspin | Rivalry continues as Nuggets host Timberwolves for Game 1 Mar 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes the ball in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Denver slugged its way past Minnesota in 2023 on its way to the NBA title. The Timberwolves derailed a Nuggets repeat with a Game 7 upset in 2024. Act III of this sometimes-bitter rivalry kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Denver hosts No. 6 Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Since the calendar turned to 2023 the teams have played 28 times, including the playoffs, and each has won 14 games. The Timberwolves dominated the four regular-season matchups in 2024-25 but the Nuggets took three of the four meetings this season, including an overtime thriller on Christmas night. And there is star power, most notably from Minnesota’s outspoken guard Anthony Edwards and Denver’s more muted triple-double machine Nikola Jokic. Both are expected to play at a high level so the outcome could come down to the supporting cast and injuries. For the Timberwolves, Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have missed time with knee injuries and Naz Reid, one of the many who will try to stop Jokic, has been dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries. The Nuggets have gotten healthier after a season full of injuries. Aaron Gordon played just 36 games due to multiple hamstring injuries and Christian Braun, who will draw the primary assignment on Edwards, was limited to 54 games because of an ankle sprain. Peyton Watson missed 25 of the last 30 games with a hamstring strain, and Spencer Jones missed the last two weeks of the season with the same injury. The status for both for Game 1 is unclear, with head coach David Adelman’s latest update coming Wednesday when he told reporters, “Peyton and Spence both practiced, not contact, all non-contact stuff. Spence did more yesterday, as far as his player development, they look good, but neither guy’s clear as of yet. My hope is they’ll play in Game 1. If not, we’ll play the group that is healthy.” Edwards averaged 30.3 points in three games against Denver this season. Jokic, who averaged a triple-double for the second straight season (27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists), feasted on Minnesota. In four games against the Timberwolves, he averaged 35.8 points, 15 rebounds and 11.3 assists. Minnesota, like every other team, will make containing Jokic a priority. But it won’t be easy. “Probably gotta call God and talk to him for a little bit and ask him for a few favors,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said of guarding Jokic. “It’s going to be a tough matchup. He’s an incredible player.” Jokic leads the NBA’s top-ranked offense that averaged 122.1 points a game and 125 against Minnesota. The Timberwolves gave up an average of 114.6 points this season, which was 12th in the league. Denver retooled its roster in the offseason for another run at a championship. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, and the salary relief led to signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. and trading for Jokic’s backup, Jonas Valanciunas. Brown was on the 2023 team that beat the Timberwolves in the first round and, despite winning in five games, called it the hardest series on the road to the title. Denver is expecting another tough one in 2026, and the sense of urgency is there. “To win a championship, you need the guys to step up at the right moment. If it is not your night one game, it’s OK because the next one is coming soon,” Jokic said. “I think we need everybody on our roster. Everybody needs to step up.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rivalry #continues #Nuggets #host #Timberwolves #Game

Top seed Elena Rybakina saved two match points against unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez to advance to the semifinals of the WTA Stuttgart tournament on Friday where she will meet Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.

Rybakina, the 2024 Stuttgart winner, needed three hours to get past Fernandez 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), saving two match points in the final-set tiebreak.

Earlier Andreeva rallied past two-time Stuttgart champion Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

“Especially in the beginning there was a lot of frustration. I was just going downhill. The serve was not going,” Rybakina said.

“Somehow I found the fight in me and a couple of points were important in the second set. And somehow I started finding this momentum.”

Swiatek has won four of her six Grand Slams on the French Open clay and was considered among the favourites but struggled against the energetic Russian.

The Pole capitalised on some clumsy baseline errors from her opponent to win the opening set but Andreeva converted a crucial break point to take the second set.

Swiatek ran out to a two-game lead in the deciding set but Andreeva broke back twice to take the initiative, and the match.

The 18-year-old rising star also eliminated defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the tournament.

“She’s won so many tournaments I can’t even count how many Slams she’s won… she’s a past winner of this tournament as well,” Andreeva said.

“I was telling myself: ‘No matter what’s happening, I have to keep fighting and keep believing. I can win from any score.”

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#Stuttgart #Open #Andreeva #stuns #Swiatek #sets #semifinal #top #seed #Rybakina">Stuttgart Open: Andreeva stuns Swiatek, sets up semifinal against top seed Rybakina Top seed Elena Rybakina saved two match points against unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez to advance to the semifinals of the WTA Stuttgart tournament on Friday where she will meet Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.Rybakina, the 2024 Stuttgart winner, needed three hours to get past Fernandez 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), saving two match points in the final-set tiebreak.Earlier Andreeva rallied past two-time Stuttgart champion Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.“Especially in the beginning there was a lot of frustration. I was just going downhill. The serve was not going,” Rybakina said.“Somehow I found the fight in me and a couple of points were important in the second set. And somehow I started finding this momentum.”Swiatek has won four of her six Grand Slams on the French Open clay and was considered among the favourites but struggled against the energetic Russian.The Pole capitalised on some clumsy baseline errors from her opponent to win the opening set but Andreeva converted a crucial break point to take the second set.Swiatek ran out to a two-game lead in the deciding set but Andreeva broke back twice to take the initiative, and the match.The 18-year-old rising star also eliminated defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the tournament.“She’s won so many tournaments I can’t even count how many Slams she’s won… she’s a past winner of this tournament as well,” Andreeva said.“I was telling myself: ‘No matter what’s happening, I have to keep fighting and keep believing. I can win from any score.”Published on Apr 18, 2026 #Stuttgart #Open #Andreeva #stuns #Swiatek #sets #semifinal #top #seed #Rybakina

Deadspin | Rapids seek to spoil debut of Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos Apr 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick in the second half against the Red Bull New York at Miami Freedom Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The surging Colorado Rapids host an Inter Miami side in flux on Saturday in Commerce City, Colo. The Rapids (4-3-0, 12 points) posted a 6-2 home rout of the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. Rafael Navarro and Kosi Thompson each scored a brace and Josh Atencio also scored for Colorado. The Rapids also added an own goal from Houston in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Conversely, just four months after its first MLS Cup title, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano resigned for personal reasons on Tuesday. The Herons (3-1-3, 12 points) tied the New York Red Bulls 2-2 last Saturday and turned to sporting director Guillermo Hoyos as interim coach. Hoyos’ relationship with Miami’s star forward Lionel Messi, who leads the team with five goals, dates back more than 20 years to their time together at Barcelona’s La Masia academy. “Friendship is not negotiated,” said Hoyos about Messi. “There is a friendship there, one that has spanned various years, and one that we share with many players because we have worked together in different countries. “Yet, that friendship does not mean that we can be right on top of him, constantly hovering over him, every single day. I believe that everything must be respected: his privacy, and everything else. “One must exercise great prudence, and, above all, proceed quietly, while striving to grow and evolve within this dynamic. For, naturally, all of this is new, and being alongside the greatest player in history is truly an extraordinary experience on the pitch. I am grateful, deeply grateful.” After its dominant performance, Colorado coach Matt Wells, Navarro, Thompson and Atencio were all named to the Team of the Matchday. The Rapids have scored 19 goals on the season, which is tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the most in Major League Soccer. Colorado’s Dante Sealy scored a goal in a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup match against Union Omaha on Tuesday. The 23-year-old forward is still in search of his first MLS goal in a Rapids’ uniform. “I had him in my office and told him to focus on the process, the habits — and the goals are only an outcome,” Wells said of Sealy. “If you start focusing on the goals you are in trouble.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rapids #seek #spoil #debut #Inter #Miami #coach #Guillermo #HoyosApr 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick in the second half against the Red Bull New York at Miami Freedom Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The surging Colorado Rapids host an Inter Miami side in flux on Saturday in Commerce City, Colo.

The Rapids (4-3-0, 12 points) posted a 6-2 home rout of the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. Rafael Navarro and Kosi Thompson each scored a brace and Josh Atencio also scored for Colorado. The Rapids also added an own goal from Houston in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

Conversely, just four months after its first MLS Cup title, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano resigned for personal reasons on Tuesday. The Herons (3-1-3, 12 points) tied the New York Red Bulls 2-2 last Saturday and turned to sporting director Guillermo Hoyos as interim coach.

Hoyos’ relationship with Miami’s star forward Lionel Messi, who leads the team with five goals, dates back more than 20 years to their time together at Barcelona’s La Masia academy.

“Friendship is not negotiated,” said Hoyos about Messi. “There is a friendship there, one that has spanned various years, and one that we share with many players because we have worked together in different countries.


“Yet, that friendship does not mean that we can be right on top of him, constantly hovering over him, every single day. I believe that everything must be respected: his privacy, and everything else.

“One must exercise great prudence, and, above all, proceed quietly, while striving to grow and evolve within this dynamic. For, naturally, all of this is new, and being alongside the greatest player in history is truly an extraordinary experience on the pitch. I am grateful, deeply grateful.”

After its dominant performance, Colorado coach Matt Wells, Navarro, Thompson and Atencio were all named to the Team of the Matchday. The Rapids have scored 19 goals on the season, which is tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the most in Major League Soccer.

Colorado’s Dante Sealy scored a goal in a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup match against Union Omaha on Tuesday. The 23-year-old forward is still in search of his first MLS goal in a Rapids’ uniform.

“I had him in my office and told him to focus on the process, the habits — and the goals are only an outcome,” Wells said of Sealy. “If you start focusing on the goals you are in trouble.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rapids #seek #spoil #debut #Inter #Miami #coach #Guillermo #Hoyos">Deadspin | Rapids seek to spoil debut of Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos Apr 11, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick in the second half against the Red Bull New York at Miami Freedom Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The surging Colorado Rapids host an Inter Miami side in flux on Saturday in Commerce City, Colo. The Rapids (4-3-0, 12 points) posted a 6-2 home rout of the Houston Dynamo last Saturday. Rafael Navarro and Kosi Thompson each scored a brace and Josh Atencio also scored for Colorado. The Rapids also added an own goal from Houston in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Conversely, just four months after its first MLS Cup title, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano resigned for personal reasons on Tuesday. The Herons (3-1-3, 12 points) tied the New York Red Bulls 2-2 last Saturday and turned to sporting director Guillermo Hoyos as interim coach. Hoyos’ relationship with Miami’s star forward Lionel Messi, who leads the team with five goals, dates back more than 20 years to their time together at Barcelona’s La Masia academy. “Friendship is not negotiated,” said Hoyos about Messi. “There is a friendship there, one that has spanned various years, and one that we share with many players because we have worked together in different countries. “Yet, that friendship does not mean that we can be right on top of him, constantly hovering over him, every single day. I believe that everything must be respected: his privacy, and everything else. “One must exercise great prudence, and, above all, proceed quietly, while striving to grow and evolve within this dynamic. For, naturally, all of this is new, and being alongside the greatest player in history is truly an extraordinary experience on the pitch. I am grateful, deeply grateful.” After its dominant performance, Colorado coach Matt Wells, Navarro, Thompson and Atencio were all named to the Team of the Matchday. The Rapids have scored 19 goals on the season, which is tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the most in Major League Soccer. Colorado’s Dante Sealy scored a goal in a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup match against Union Omaha on Tuesday. The 23-year-old forward is still in search of his first MLS goal in a Rapids’ uniform. “I had him in my office and told him to focus on the process, the habits — and the goals are only an outcome,” Wells said of Sealy. “If you start focusing on the goals you are in trouble.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rapids #seek #spoil #debut #Inter #Miami #coach #Guillermo #Hoyos

Post Comment