Julius Randle, VJ Edgecombe, Pat Beverley, Jaquez Jr. Star in Offseason Workout Video
Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe got a taste of what to expect in the NBA as he participated in the Rico Hines Runs.
The No. 3 overall pick worked out alongside three-time All-Star Julius Randle, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., veteran point guard Patrick Beverley and others in Los Angeles.
As you'd expect, Randle looked sharp. The 30-year-old isn't resting on his laurels after signing a $100 million contract to extent his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote in 2023 how the pickup games overseen by Hines, who played collegiately at UCLA and is an assistant on the Sixers' staff, have become a popular summer destination for NBA players. Younger talent and vets alike make the trip to L.A. to learn from Hines and face off with their peers.
For fans in Philly, the clips of Edgecombe provide a bit of a salve in an offseason when the health of stars Paul George and Joel Embiid is already a point of concern heading into 2025-26.
The 76ers' short-term outlook is murky at best and the massive contracts for George and Embiid could be millstones on the payroll for a few years. Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey might at least help point to a bright future if the rookie is as good as a lot of people think.
