In a surprising turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers snagged Baylor's freshman standout V.J. Edgecombe with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, hoping he can elevate their roster from the depths of last season's despair.

The 76ers, fresh off a dismal 24-58 season, are banking their future on the 6-foot-5 Edgecombe, who impressed teams with averages of 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and a Dwyane Wade-esque athleticism at Baylor. With the young guard's shooting ability under scrutiny but supported by stars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia fans are cautiously optimistic that Edgecombe can transform the team's fortunes faster than a fast break.

Drafted third overall, Edgecombe is now the fifth lottery pick in Baylor history, a fact that undoubtedly makes him the pride of his university. It's a well-deserved recognition for the Bahamian player who previously represented his country at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Given his international experience, he may actually find playing in the NBA to be a leisurely stroll in the park, provided that park isn't actually filled with feral raccoons or ticket scalpers.

His selection came after the Dallas Mavericks kicked things off by choosing Cooper Flagg first, followed swiftly by the San Antonio Spurs drafting Dylan Harper at number two. The 76ers, who intriguingly moved up two spots in the draft lottery to snag Edgecombe, must be secretly thanking their lucky stars, or at least their statistician, for the finely-tuned luck that allowed them to capitalize on their draft positioning this year.

Despite Edgecombe's promising stats in college, there are lingering concerns about his shooting, as he managed to shoot only 34 percent from beyond the arc. This has some fans feeling like they've been served ambrosia salad at a BBQ—delightful but potentially confusing. Experts are suggesting that while his athletic prowess means he can dazzle on the court, he'd do well to spend extra hours honing that shooting form before unleashing his next masterpiece on an unsuspecting arena.

Combining Edgecombe's energy with the more seasoned skills of teammates like Paul George, who has more years in the league than some of us have been alive, could yield unexpected results. The idea here is that Paul will provide the guidance Edgecombe needs while working him hard in practice—because nothing bonds teammates faster than rigorous conditioning drills and, one hopes, pizza parties afterwards.

After the draft, an excited Edgecombe said, "We’re truly blessed just to be in this position." Which is a statement that would resonate with anyone who's ever gotten lost in a corn maze only to find their way out—and were then immediately whisked away to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Given the 76ers' recent track record of mediocrity, they might be tempted to plan a championship parade at the first sighting of a mildly competitive quarter. However, with Edgecombe featuring prominently among the league's next generation of elite athletes, the Sixers are taking a cautionary approach—much like walking carefully through a minefield of possible injuries and overhyped expectations.

As Edgecombe embarks on his NBA journey, the expectation of contributing early is high. Fans are eager for the new season, and there’s plenty of basketball to be played, and miracles take time—a lot of time. After all, a single draft pick doesn't usually fix a broken franchise overnight, even if everyone were secretly praying that it would.

In the upcoming season, it'll be thrilling to see Edgecombe take the court. Quite literally, we’re talking about the court—because he will run on it. The 76ers' coaching staff likely hopes that between talent scouting and evening practices, they won't accidentally send him to the wrong team by mistake. To paraphrase: 'next year's championship is always just around the corner,' provided they actually bring the right players along for the ride.