Edgecombe’s highlight dunk sparks Sixers, but rookie declines All-Star contest invitation
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PHILADELPHIA — Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe electrified the crowd with a soaring one-hand slam during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 113-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 19, 2026, yet said he will skip the NBA’s All-Star Weekend dunk contest if invited.
The No. 3 overall pick out of Baylor drove the lane midway through the third quarter, rose above 6-foot-10 Pacers center Tony Bradley and finished the dunk while drawing a foul. Edgecombe crashed hard to the floor, waved to the bench and missed the ensuing free throw but ignited a comeback that kept Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.
Edgecombe finished with 11 points, while Joel Embiid supplied 30 points and nine rebounds and Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and eight steals. The victory moved the Sixers to the second night of a back-to-back, with Phoenix visiting on Tuesday.
Despite the crowd-pleasing play, the 6-foot-4 guard dismissed the idea of entering next month’s dunk contest. “That hurt,” he said of the landing. “It feels good to dunk on somebody, but it hurt because I landed bad.”
Edgecombe registered a 38.5-inch max vertical leap at the draft combine and opened his NBA career with 34 points against Boston on opening night. He is one of three rookies this season with at least 10 games of 20 or more points.
In the locker room, Embiid poked fun at the media swarm around the newcomer. “I haven’t seen this many people around you since you got drafted,” the All-Star center joked. Edgecombe responded by claiming he once dunked on Embiid in practice, though no video evidence was offered.
The rookie expects to be sore but available when the Sixers meet the Suns.
Source: ESPN
