Lebron James Sees Elite Defensive Potential In ‘flat-out Player' Vj Edgecombe

LeBron James sees elite defensive potential in ‘flat-out player' VJ Edgecombe originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James isn’t underrating how valuable VJ Edgecombe can be for the new-look Sixers this season.

On the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, James detailed his confidence in the second-year guard after his All-Rookie First Team season in 2025-26.

“He’s a flat-out player, man,” James told Nash. 

James noted that all the reports he’s heard out of the Sixers organization have been complimentary of Edgecombe. He specifically mentioned how Edgecombe is “beyond his years,” and was impressed by the fact that he often acted as a leader of the team as a rookie.

“They say he speaks with an intelligent, [natural] confidence and works extremely hard.”

Given the number of ball dominant players on this Sixers team, reasonable questions regarding Edgecombe’s usage have come up. What will his role look like on a team with four players who finished top-50 league-wide in usage rate last season?

James rejected the premise that Edgecombe should have to wait his turn even with so much star power surrounding him. The most immediate area of impact he has in mind for Edgecombe? 

The defensive side of the ball.

“There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to, if he really wants to be, contending for an All-Defensive team this year with his athleticism, with his length, with his speed,” James said. 

“I think [Jaylen Brown] gonna set the tone with his ability to guard,” he added. “But I think VJ should be right there, just taking all the keys from JB, learning all the nuances, because he has all the tools.”

The No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft was a disruptive defender as a rookie. He was 17th in the NBA in steals per game (1.3) and 18th among guards in blocks per game (0.5). 

He was also 43rd league-wide in transition points per game (4.3), an element of the game where the Sixers should thrive in 2026-27. 

In fact, Tyrese Maxey (7.2), James (7.1) and Brown (6.7) were second, third and fourth in the NBA in transition points per game last year. James sees Edgecombe and Maxey as a two-headed monster that can create transition.

“If we can get stops or create turnovers, then it’s gonna benefit VJ and Tyrese more than anybody on the team,” he said. “Those guys are so fast and so athletic. You’re not going to be able to catch up to ‘em.”

James also noted his excitement to play in Nick Nurse’s defensive scheme given the opportunities it could create for the athletic Sixers starting lineup. He pointed to the 2019 NBA champion Raptors as a defense that he wants to emulate.

“They got up into you. They got into the passing lane. If you got around one guy, there’s another guy helping you,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing if we can translate a little bit of that as well because we have the speed, we have the athleticism.”

The Sixers have struggled defensively the past two seasons, finishing 19th in scoring defense in 2025-26 and 21st in 2024-25. The advanced numbers haven’t been better – they were 17th in defensive rating last year and 26th the season before. 

Brown joining the fold gives Nurse a bonafide wing defender in the starting lineup. Dean Wade is a versatile, plus defensive piece. James, although no longer the generational athlete he was in his prime, is one of the smartest basketball players to ever play the game who adds size and length. Those new pieces alongside Edgecombe’s continued maturation into a backcourt stopper should give the Sixers a higher defensive floor in 2026-27. 

“It’s a pride thing,” James said regarding their defensive mentality. “I’m not going to allow my guy to continue to exploit me or beat me or whatever the case may be. There has to be some type of pride in the sense of it.”

James and the Sixers will hope to embrace that mindset next week with training camp kicking off on Tuesday after Monday’s media day.