Despite being open about his hope of Ace Bailey potentially landing with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA Draft, Paul George seems to be very impressed by the player they took instead, VJ Edgecombe .
Assuming their top players can stay healthy, the 76ers are hoping to get back to being a playoff team and force in the East next season. That is why the organization was willing to take on a talented project in Edgecombe in June.
While he will not be expected to make a huge impact immediately, George seems to believe he already has the skills to make a difference as a rookie. And compared to him to one of the best winning players of the last decade.
"He got that dog in him. Watching him, it was like watching a young Jimmy," George said on " Podcast P with Paul George ." "He moves like Jimmy. Kind of has that mid-range tenacity. He's kind of got a lot of the Jimmy likeness to him, so he's definitely going to be good."
Related: Philadelphia 76ers lose potential Paul George trade partner after this blockbuster deal
In his Summer League debut, oddly enough against Bailey and the Utah Jazz , Edgecombe immediately had a strong performance. Posting 28 points and 10 boards. That performance really impressed the nine-time All-Star, and he offered even more praise for the young guard.
"He was able to get to his midi, able to see space on the floor, and was spacing behind the 3-point line. He was attacking in transition. Like there's just so much space for guys when you cross over from college to the NBA," he said.
"And I thought he put it all out on display. He showed flashes of stardom. I love the poise and patience in the pick and roll," he added. "That's not something that comes natural. Especially for young guys that aren't point guards. I saw him reading when to come off fast. Getting downhill, he's got his little Patton one-two spin turnaround jumper. I thought he had a great showing. Like enough for Philly to shut him down, the rest of the summer league."
Related: Quentin Grimes may have priced himself out of Philadelphia 76ers' range
Related Headlines
