VJ Edgecombe's jaw-dropping dunk has the NBA buzzing, but he's already ruled out the dunk contest. What's the deal?
On a Tuesday night, January 20, 2026, Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe unleashed a dunk that sent shockwaves through the arena, leaving fans and teammates in awe. The slam, a highlight-reel moment, saw Edgecombe soar over a Pacer, reminiscent of Dr. J's iconic style. He even admitted he felt the impact of the landing! The dunk itself was worth two points, but its impact was far greater, instantly becoming a top play in Edgecombe's young NBA career.
But here's where it gets interesting: Despite the electrifying performance, Edgecombe has already stated he won't participate in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend, should he be asked. This decision comes as a surprise, especially given the spectacular plays that are helping the Sixers compete in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Sixers were clearly impressed. Teammate Joel Embiid joked about the media attention Edgecombe received, highlighting the impact of the dunk. While Edgecombe only scored 11 points, Embiid led the team with 30 points and 9 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and 8 steals. The highlight of the game, however, was Edgecombe's third-quarter dunk, which electrified the crowd of over 18,000 fans.
The play unfolded as Edgecombe, receiving a pass from Maxey, drove through the lane and dunked over 6-foot-10 Pacers center Tony Bradley. Although he missed the free throw after being fouled, the dunk itself was a statement. Edgecombe acknowledged the pain from the hard landing but reveled in the accomplishment.
This isn't surprising for those who have followed his career, given that Edgecombe achieved a 38.5-inch max vertical leap in the draft combine's top 10. His addition to the Sixers has been a success since he scored 34 points in his NBA debut against Boston. He's also one of only three rookies in the league this season with at least 10 games of 20-plus points.
Edgecombe admitted he expected to be sore but ready to play the next day against Phoenix. He even joked that the dunk wasn't even his best of the season, a claim made even more intriguing by his comment about dunking on Embiid in practice.
What do you think about Edgecombe's decision to skip the dunk contest? Do you think he's right to focus on the playoffs, or would you have loved to see him compete? Share your thoughts in the comments!
