The newest addition to the Philadelphia 76ers' backcourt, Cameron Payne, had high praise for rookie phenom V.J. Edgecombe.
The Philadelphia 76ers signed 10-year NBA veteran guard Cameron Payne to a rest-of-season contract earlier this week.
The decision was made likely in hopes that Payne can fill the void left by Jared McCain, who was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder at this year's trade deadline.
Philadelphia returned to practice Wednesday from the All-Star break, and it's clear 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe made a strong first impression on Payne.
“Oh man, he's a dog, man. I’ve been watching from afar, but actually being up close, that man is a dog," Payne said, per PHLY Sixers. "He plays well, he attacks the rim, he attacks the rim crazy... I'm going to look forward to playing alongside of him... Everybody says his energy is great, too. Kyle [Lowry], the first day, he said, you’re going to love him. So I'm just looking forward to the games and really getting to play alongside him."
Edgecombe, who was the third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is thriving in his rookie campaign thus far. The 20-year-old from the Bahamas is averaging 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 42.3% shooting and 35.2% shooting from three-point range. Even in matchups where his shot is not falling, he manages to influence the game at a high level on both ends of the floor.
Payne could absolutely become a beneficiary of those games, as his catch-and-shoot ability is one of the reasons the 76ers likely had a desire to bring him back. He knocked down 36.3% of his shots from the arc during his stint with the New York Knicks in the 2024-2025 season.
During Payne's time in Philadelphia, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists on 41.3% shooting in 31 appearances.
While Payne likely won't see a ton of minutes for the Sixers, it's clear he's looking forward to his time spent on the court with Edgecombe.
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