If you’ve been following the 2025 NBA draft class, one name that keeps popping up is VJ Edgecombe. The Bahamian guard went from high school in the Bahamas to the Philadelphia 76ers as the third overall pick, making his NBA debut with a bang.

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Full name: Valdez Drexel “V. J.” Edgecombe Jr. ·
Born: July 30, 2005 ·
Nationality: Bahamian ·
Height/weight: 6-4, 180 lb ·
Position: Shooting guard ·
Draft: 2025, 1st round (3rd pick overall)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • July 30, 2005 – born in Bahamas (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
  • 2024-2025 – one season at Baylor (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
  • June 2025 – drafted by 76ers (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
4What’s next
  • Rookie season with Philadelphia 76ers wearing #77
  • Rookie contract expected to be finalized under NBA scale
  • Plays shooting guard behind established backcourt

Among top-3 draft picks, three data points stand out about Edgecombe’s profile: his height, his college, and his scoring debut.

Attribute Value
Full name Valdez Drexel “V. J.” Edgecombe Jr.
Born July 30, 2005
Nationality Bahamian
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) (Sorare)
Weight 180 lb (81 kg)
Position Shooting guard (Sorare)
NBA team Philadelphia 76ers
Jersey number 77
College Baylor
Draft 2025, 1st round (3rd overall) (Wikipedia)

The pattern: Edgecombe’s measurables align with a prototypical shooting guard, but his 34-point debut signals he might outpace the averages.

Is VJ Edgecombe Jamaican?

No. VJ Edgecombe is Bahamian, not Jamaican. He was born in Freeport, Bimini, The Bahamas on (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). He represents the Bahamas internationally. The confusion sometimes arises because the Bahamas and Jamaica are both Caribbean nations, but Edgecombe’s roots are exclusively Bahamian.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s nationality?

Edgecombe is a Bahamian citizen. He played high school basketball in the United States at Long Island Lutheran (New York) but remains a Bahamian national.

Where was VJ Edgecombe born?

He was born in Freeport on the island of Bimini, Bahamas (Wikipedia).

The upshot

Nationality matters for scouting: Edgecombe is the highest-drafted Bahamian player since Buddy Hield went sixth in 2016. His Caribbean background adds international marketing value for the 76ers.

Is VJ Edgecombe hurt?

As of the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, Edgecombe is healthy and active. According to Sorare (a fantasy sports data source), he experienced an injury period from July 7 to August 7, 2025—a 30-day absence (Sorare (fantasy sports platform)). No other major injuries have been reported during his rookie season. Minor knocks have not caused him to miss significant game time.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s injury status?

Edgecombe is currently listed as active. The July injury appears to have been a minor setback during summer workouts, and he has not missed any regular-season games due to it.

Has VJ Edgecombe missed games due to injury?

He has not missed any reported regular-season games. In his NBA debut on October 22, 2025, he scored 34 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished three assists—a strong sign of full fitness.

Why this matters

For a rookie playing on a top-three pick’s contract, any early injury can derail development. Edgecombe’s clean health record so far suggests the 76ers can count on him for the full season.

How much will VJ Edgecombe get paid?

As the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Edgecombe is tied to the NBA’s rookie salary scale. While exact figures aren’t finalized until his contract is signed, the rookie scale for the 3rd pick typically lands around $12–14 million per year for the first two seasons, with team options for years three and four (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). His total rookie contract could exceed $50 million over four years if all options are exercised.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s rookie contract?

Edgecombe signed a standard rookie-scale contract with Philadelphia. The exact terms have not been publicly released, but the NBA collective bargaining agreement sets the salary for the 3rd pick at approximately 120% of the rookie scale amount for that slot.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s salary for 2025-26?

His first-year salary is projected to be around $12-13 million (Sorare). This is in line with recent 3rd picks like Jabari Smith Jr. and Scoot Henderson.

What this means: The 76ers are betting big on Edgecombe’s development. The team option years give them flexibility if he outperforms or underperforms expectations.

Why did VJ Edgecombe pick 77?

Edgecombe chose jersey number 77 because of a “lucky 7, doubled” idea, as he explained in a video posted by the NBA NBA on Facebook (official league social media). The number 77 is rare in the NBA—Luka Dončić (Dallas) is the most prominent current wearer.

What is the meaning behind VJ Edgecombe’s jersey number?

In the NBA’s social media clip, Edgecombe said he wanted to double the lucky number seven. The Instagram post from the 76ers announcing his signing also highlighted the 77 jersey, calling it “making things official” Instagram (social media).

Is 77 a common NBA number?

No. Few players have worn 77. Besides Dončić, only a handful of others (like Jamario Moon and Gorgui Dieng) have used it. Edgecombe’s choice adds a personal touch to his brand.

“The lucky 7, doubled.”

— VJ Edgecombe, via NBA on Facebook NBA on Facebook (official league social media)

The implication: a distinctive number builds recognition, but Edgecombe will have to live up to the “doubled luck” expectation on the court.

Who is VJ Edgecombe’s father?

Edgecombe’s father is Valdez Edgecombe Sr., a supportive figure in his basketball journey. However, public details about his father’s background remain limited. The family is tight-knit, and VJ has credited his father for his work ethic. His brother also plays basketball, though neither the brother’s name nor playing level has been widely reported.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s family background?

Edgecombe grew up in Freeport, Bahamas. His father introduced him to basketball early. The family later moved to the U.S. to support his development at Long Island Lutheran.

Does VJ Edgecombe have siblings?

Yes, he has a brother who also plays basketball. The brother’s name and level of play have not been publicly confirmed.

“Making it official.”

— Philadelphia 76ers Instagram, on Edgecombe’s signing Instagram (social media)

Timeline: VJ Edgecombe’s path to the NBA

Here’s how Edgecombe’s career progressed from the Bahamas to the big league.

  • 2005-07-30: Born in Freeport, Bahamas.
  • 2023-2024: Played high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran (NY).
  • 2024-2025: Attended Baylor University, played one season.
  • June 2025: Selected 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
  • 2025-2026: Rookie season with the 76ers, wearing #77.

The pattern: Edgecombe’s rapid rise from Bahamian high schooler to top-3 draft pick in just two years is unusually fast. Most lottery picks have multiple college seasons.

What’s confirmed and what’s still hazy

Confirmed facts

  • VJ Edgecombe is Bahamian, not Jamaican.
  • He was born on July 30, 2005.
  • He plays for the Philadelphia 76ers as a shooting guard.
  • He wears jersey number 77.
  • He was drafted 3rd overall in 2025.

What’s unclear

  • Exact reason for choosing jersey number 77 (only “lucky 7” explanation).
  • Specific details about his father’s background.
  • Exact rookie contract figures (not yet finalized).

Summary

VJ Edgecombe is one of the most intriguing rookies to come out of the Bahamas. His third-overall draft status, 34-point debut, and unique jersey number make him a player to watch. For the Philadelphia 76ers, the choice is clear: develop him as a future sharpshooter and secondary playmaker, or risk losing a rare talent to the pressure of lottery expectations.

Additional sources

instagram.com, tiktok.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is VJ Edgecombe Jamaican?

No, he is Bahamian, born in Freeport, Bahamas.

Is VJ Edgecombe hurt?

He is healthy as of the 2025-26 season; a minor injury in July 2025 has not affected his playing time.

How much will VJ Edgecombe get paid?

As the 3rd pick, his rookie salary is projected at $12-14 million per year.

Why did VJ Edgecombe pick 77?

He chose the number because of a “lucky 7, doubled” idea.

Who is VJ Edgecombe’s father?

His father is Valdez Edgecombe Sr., who has been a supportive figure in his career.

Is VJ Edgecombe poor?

He came from a modest background in the Bahamas but now has a lucrative NBA contract.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s college?

He played one season at Baylor University.

What is VJ Edgecombe’s position?

He plays shooting guard.