VJ Edgecombe was named the 2026 Rising Stars MVP after closing out two straight wins for Team Vince en route to the Rising Stars championship.
In Game One between Team Melo and Team Austin’s G League rising stars, Dylan Harper (Spurs) hit the game-winning shot to get Team Melo to the target score of 40 points. Team Austin had the top two scorers in the game in Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Clippers) and Yang Hansen (Blazers), but Team Melo’s balanced scoring attack, led by Reed Sheppard (Rockets) and Donovan Clingan (Blazers) with 9 points each, was too much for the G League stars to contain.
In Game Two between Team Vince and Team T-Mac, VJ Edgecombe (Sixers) exploded for 17 points, including the last 10 and the step-back game-winner over Cam Spencer (Grizzlies). Jaylon Tyson (Cavaliers) led Team T-Mac with 10 points, while Tre Johnson (Wizards) added eight while facing off against teammate Kyshawn George. Team Vince came away with the 41-36 victory.
The Rising Stars championship game, with a target score of 25, kicked off with back-to-back Clingan three-pointers while Matas Buzelis (Bulls) carried Team Vince early with a one-handed dunk and a smooth post move. An Edgecombe rebound and putback brought the game to 23-22 for Team Vince, prompting a Team Melo timeout. After a Stephon Castle (Spurs) putback dunk, Edgecombe was fouled by Clingan on a drive, heading to the free throw line, where he knocked down the game-winning free throws. Carter Bryant (Spurs) contributed five points while playing against his teammate Harper, who led Team Melo with eight points.
VJ is him bro. Very clutch in both games. I’m glad all 3 games played were competitive and down to the wire
It’s not just these games it’s been all year – he is him. Kid doesn’t miss in clutch time but it’s more than that all game but especially in clutch time the are 100 winning plays you’ll see whether it’s a steal or diving on the floor for loose balls or getting the rebound – you saw a piece of that with the offensive rebound outback but in clutch he is everywhere even when it doesn’t work – I think it was just the lakers game where we lost he had a steal on inbounds with an immediate liketurn around fading back 3 nothing but net to give a chance when everyone else in the world would have thought it was over. – kid just never quits and is unconscious at game end
Just think people laughed when sixers took VJ over Ace. Sixers got that pick right
This was a fun all star event, far more fun than I expect the rest to be.
Congrats to VJ ….. kind of telling Vince coached him.
VJ with over 35 mins a gm. Not a fan. Should not be over 30 mins.