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Sixers Draft Pick’s Emotional Speech About His Mom Loved By NBA Fans
The Philadelphia 76ers added an athletic young wing in the 2025 NBA draft by taking VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor with the No. 3 pick in the first round. From a basketball standpoint it's a great selection for Philly. Edgecombe comes with great potential but can contribute immediately with his defensive skills and great physical traits. From a human standpoint, it seems the Sixers got a good one.
Edgecombe was pulled for an interview with NBA TV after he got drafted and got very emotional while speaking about the impact his mother has had on his journey to the NBA.
"I lived off a generator. I ain't had no electricity and I lived off a generator for seven years," Edgecombe said as he began to break down. "Man. Seeing what she had to go through? To feed us? Man, it's crazy."
“The long nights… I lived off a generator for 7 years. I didn’t have electricity - I lived off a generator for 7 years. To see what she had to go through just to feed us? Crazy.”
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) June 26, 2025
VJ Edgecombe is impossible to dislike & will become a fan favorite in Philly very soon… pic.twitter.com/6x2xZeXsjA
It was an amazing moment and fans loved it.
Being a Knicks fan, I have an extreme dislike for Philly.. it’s just programmed into my DNA… but it’s IMPOSSIBLE not to like this kid!! pic.twitter.com/FEQs8utilR
— COACH (@punkrockcoach) June 26, 2025
I’m not a Philly fan but how can you not cheer for this kid
— Dan Arriola (@Danarriola13) June 26, 2025
I won’t forgive this team if he gets traded
— Felipe (@Felipe_Sosa300) June 26, 2025
😭😭😭
— Andrea Cameron (@andreatalk) June 26, 2025
I love seeing good kids make it all the way. Congrats VJ!! #SicEm 🐻
Thinks man just changed the trajectory of his Families life man! Love to see it , this is what it’s all about ❤️
— Jordan M Rosado (@jrosado237) June 26, 2025
Edgecombe's future is bright and he's clearly won over many fans with his honest, emotional reaction to the events of Wednesday night. It seems the Sixers, if anything, drafted a likable and earnest young man.
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Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in May 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead. In addition to his work as a writer, he has hosted the Press Pass Podcast covering sports media and The Big Stream covering pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University, he is always up for a good debate and enjoys loudly arguing about sports, rap music, books and video games. McKeone has been a member of the National Sports Media Association since 2020.