Sixers guard 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 (Trail Blazers), but Team Melo’s balanced scoring attack, led by Reed Sheppard (Rockets) and Donovan Clingan (Blazers) with nine points each, was too much for the G League stars to contain.
In Game Two between Team Vince and Team T-Mac, Edgecombe 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 and 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.
Kevin Durant, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Jamal Murray, Cade Cunningham are among the future All-Stars who have won the Rising Stars MVP award over the past couple decades.
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
Relax it’s early. You can’t have this discussion until 3 years from now.
I love VJ and as of now, it looks like you are right but have you watched Ace play lately? He does some things VJ will never do.
This one might surprise us all in 3-4 years. IMO, just like on draft night, Ace has a little higher ceiling but a much lower floor.
Hit the nail on the head. We need to check back to see what player will be a winning basketball player in a few years. I like both and we shall see. But unless one of them have a deep playoff run like D. Wade or magic Johnson their rookie year. We won’t know. But I really do like VJ. Looks like he has Clutch gene.
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.
VJ is gonna be special man. I just hope the sixers don’t screw it up
thanks ace for wanting nothing to do with the sixers .. hope you enjoy your mid career in utah
VJ great player the Philly backcourt set for the next decade. Kon has been a surprise. Would any Philly fan regret not having Kon instead?
I think VJ fits what the Sixers needed better than Kon, but I don’t think there’s any doubt that all four of the top picks in this year’s draft can play.
VJ looks great but it doesn’t change the fact that he is stuck in a very small backcourt that struggles winning games. Fun to watch for sure. I still don’t love the makeup of the team.
In 5 years we may be looking back and saying Kon or Coward (or maybe Bailey) would’ve been better backcourt mates with Moxley.
Kon provides gravity that would open the middle for Moxley and punish double teams on Embiid. He has opened up the court for everyone in Charlotte. There are guys that can shoot the three and then there are guys that you can’t leave for a half second. Kon is already on a very short list of guys that create premium gravity.
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE VJ. Just not in love with the fit
Daryl if you trade this guy I swear…
I thought the target score format was quite fun