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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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By now, the news is out that the Philadelphia 76ers have assembled an incredible starting lineup, boasting four NBA All-Stars, including one of the greatest of all time to play basketball, LeBron James.
That leaves a fifth individual, VJ Edgecombe, as someone who many have yet to see rise to the levels of his teammates, who include All-Star Tyrese Maxey, former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
With Edgecombe entering his sophomore season, he's now in a prime position to learn from several more All-Star players in Brown and James. In a recent interview on ESPN, he revealed what the expectations are for Philadelphia with its new-look lineup.
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"Championship or bust. You know how it is, especially with a team like this. It's either championship or 'they suck,'" Edgecombe said. "I know I'm playing alongside great players. Nobody has egos. We've all been in communication ... so, I'm really happy."
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Edgecombe was the 76ers' third overall pick in last year's NBA Draft and among the bright spots of a rookie class, which also included Cooper Flagg joining the Dallas Mavericks and Dylan Harper joining the San Antonio Spurs. Only Edgecombe and Harper reached the postseason, gaining valuable playoff experience as rookies.
While Harper and the Spurs reached the NBA Finals, the 76ers failed to advance past the New York Knicks in the second round. It's believed they now have the lineup that will allow them to topple tough contenders in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Last season, Edgecombe averaged 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team along with Flagg, Harper, the Charlotte Hornets' Kon Knueppel, and the Memphis Grizzlies' Cedric Coward.
While Edgecombe played exceptionally well alongside Maxey and Embiid last season, it will be interesting to see how his role develops in his second season now that two more 20-plus points per game scorers are in the starting lineup with him.
"Championship or bust" probably doesn't seem too crazy based on the 76ers' lineup on paper, but there's still an 82-game season to get through before they can even chase that fourth franchise championship.
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