LeBron James’ Presence Does Not ‘Scare’ VJ Edgecombe: “We Holding Each Other Accountable”

VJ Edgecombe will hold everyone accountable on the Philadelphia 76ers, including LeBron James.

LeBron James’ Presence Does Not ‘Scare’ VJ Edgecombe: “We Holding Each Other Accountable”

VJ Edgecombe and LeBron James (Image credits - Yahoo Sports)

After deciding not to hold an introductory press conference, LeBron James was finally seen in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey on Media Day on Monday. The vibes were very high as James spoke to the media for the first time since his move in the summer.

The King is joining the 76ers for his 24th and 25th seasons after signing a two-year deal. He will bring much-needed leadership and veteran experience to the locker room, something the team has lacked for a while.

James has been in the league for 23 years. While a lot of attention was placed on James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, one player who has at times become lost in all the headlines is last year’s standout rookie VJ Edgecombe.

After their first day of training camp, Edgecombe shared an interesting story about how he instructed James defensively.

I told him, I was like, if we have a possession, I’ll be like, ‘Yo, ‘Bron, we got to switch that. We got to do it.’ Whoever we’re holding, we’re holding each other accountable. I told him we got to switch. You know, we forgot, we messed up with the switch, but that’s what happens.

VJ Edgecombe on PHLY SIXERS podcast

VJ Edgecombe may not boast the same experience and star power as his teammates, but he did impress them in his rookie year. Although he was born two years after James’ NBA debut, Edgecombe isn’t afraid to hold the King accountable and has the opportunity to learn from him as well.

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VJ Edgecombe is having fun playing alongside LeBron James

The 76ers are coming off a dream offseason in terms of acquisitions. After a second-round exit last season, they needed to make some big moves to bolster their squad.

They got their summer underway by trading for Jaylen Brown before signing James as a free agent. The moves have generated a lot of excitement heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

Speaking to the media, VJ Edgecombe said he is enjoying the experience of sharing the court with the four-time champion.

I said, ‘We’re teammates now, man. There’s no pressure.’ Playing alongside him, it’s fun. If anything, it’s more fun than pressure. Obviously, all the eyes are on us, so it’s just more fun than, I’ll say, pressure. we’re getting to know each other. It’s a new system for him.

VJ Edgecombe on PHLY SIXERS podcast

Following the signing of James, Edgecombe was one of the first people to label the next season as “championship or bust“. It will be interesting to see how the young star adjusts to becoming the fifth option after spending so much of last season as the secondary scoring option behind Maxey.

VJ Edgecombe told Tyrese Maxey to add LeBron James to group chat

The addition of LeBron James has turned the 76ers into title contenders even before they have played their first NBA game together. On paper, it is hard to argue against them having the most dominant starting five.

Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe
Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe (Image credits – ESPN)

Their potential starting five of James, Embiid, Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe have a group chat together. Brown revealed last month that he suggested they all go skydiving if they win the championship next year, but James declined in the group chat.

On Media Day, VJ Edgecombe revealed that it was his idea to add James to their group chat.

Initially, before Bron got there, I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll make a group chat’, me, Reese, JB, Joel. And then Bron came, and obviously I don’t got LeBron James’ number, so I can’t say ‘Go add Bron to the group chat’. So, I told Tyrese to do it. I asked Tyrese if he could do it. And obviously, yeah, [Tyrese], did it, but it was my idea.

VJ Edgecombe in his press conference

The 76ers have the star power to deliver big things, but they will need to build their team chemistry. Their 2026-27 campaign gets underway against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20.

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