LeBron James Dishes on 'Intel' He Got About VJ Edgecombe After Making 76ers Decision

LeBron James says he learned while preparing to join the Philadelphia 76ers Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid weren't the only players taking on key leadership roles on last season's team.

James said on Friday's Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash he was told VJ Edgecombe also led the Sixers during his age-20 season.

"The intel that I've got from everyone is that this kid is beyond his years," James said about the 25:40 mark of the podcast. "They said he was actually one of the leaders of the team as a 20-year-old rookie.

"And not in a disrespectful manner. It's not like he was speaking just to be speaking, or thinking he's better than this guy. No. They say he speaks with an intelligence, confidence, natural, and works extremely hard, and he's a flat-out player."

James added he is expecting Edgecombe, who averaged 1.4 steals per game as a rookie, to join fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown in shaping the Sixers' defense next season.

"There's no reason he shouldn't be able to, if he really wants to, to be contending for an All-Defensive Team this year with his athleticism, with his length, with his speed," James said about Edgecombe.

James continued, "Obviously, I think JB's gonna set the tone, with his ability to guard, 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."

Edgecombe, who impressed head coach Nick Nurse last season with his ability to quickly adjust to the NBA, will be taked with adapting to more changes this fall.

After taking on a significant ball-handling role for the Sixers as a rookie, Edgecombe could be destined for more off-ball play now that Brown and James are coming to Philadelphia.

The 76ers could get a first look at Edgecombe's role in the new starting lineup when training camp begins Sept. 29.

James is set to tip off his first season with the Sixers about three weeks later with an Oct. 20 matchup against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.