Club 520 - VJ Edgecombe on NBA Draft, Tyrese Maxey, 76ers, Rising Stars MVP

All‑Star Weekend in LA, Club 520 is live, Adidas holding it down, and we’ve got a young Philly rookie in the building. Before hoops talk, are folks really running up on you about busted parlays?

It’s been wild. I had a low‑scoring night and the DMs got ugly, but I’m just doing my job and stacking better games.

You shut a lot of that up fast. First NBA game in Boston, and you came out firing—any nerves?

TD Garden is crazy, but I wasn’t rattled. I focused on getting shots up and enjoyed the battle.

Take us back. Florida to New York for high school, then Baylor—why that path?

I pulled up to New York knowing nobody and just hooped until the offers came junior year. I chose Baylor for Coach Drew, their guard culture, and the way they value defense.

What changed most from high school to college?

Athleticism evens out fast and the paint is packed, so easy rim runs disappear. Non‑con was shaky, then Big 12 play hit and I took off—there was a stretch I was around the mid‑twenties, and that’s when I knew I was league bound.

That viral dunk on the coach’s kid during a blowout—worth the hype?

I sprinted for it because I knew I was coming out and needed one more bucket. My phone lit up with love and hate, and more parlay jokes, but it was a moment.

You also had a run with the national team before college. How’d that shape you?

People told me to skip college, but I just wanted to hoop. We stacked wins and felt close to an Olympic berth, and that whole experience leveled me up.

Walk us through the draft process—combine to workouts.

I prepped in Indy, heard the usual talk on height and wingspan at the combine, then only worked out for Philly. I was nervous with the brass watching, but I wanted that fit—me and Maxey can do damage.

Your team stays dangerous no matter the lineup. What are practices like?

Chippy in the best way. Those runs get heated and make us sharper. Guarding the big fella is a cheat code lesson—he draws fouls and moves like the game’s in slow‑mo.

Vets everywhere in that locker room. How are they helping you grow?

They’re dropping gems daily. I’ve been with P2 working on my handle to add creation to my straight‑line burst and get to spots cleaner.

How tough was the jump in pace and space?

The league is faster with way more room. That spacing helped me attack in my debut and knock down open looks.

Quick detour—if we’re in the paint, I’m getting mine. You scoring on me?

Give me one step and I’m good, and I trust the jumper if you send me to the line.

Goals for year one?

Win a championship and chase Rookie of the Year. Hardware with a ring would be perfect.

Who gave you that true welcome‑to‑the‑league test?

Luka, Shai, Book, Brunson—stacked week after week. Toughest so far is Curry. He hung forty on me, and that’s part of the learning curve.

That’s the show—shout to the Adidas fam and our guy for sliding through. Club 520 is rolling all All‑Star Weekend, and please stop pressing players about your parlays. We’ll be back soon—stay tapped in.