Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe is projected to be one of the most exciting prospects of the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-5 guard is most commonly linked to the Philadelphia 76ers or Charlotte Hornets with the third and fourth picks, respectively.
The 19-year-old measured in with a 6-foot, 7 1/2-inch wingspan. He also registered a 38 1/2-inch max vertical jump, tied for the ninth-highest mark. He is an offensive threat in downhill while also playing high-level defense. So, who does he look up to when developing this well-rounded game?
Edgecombe didn’t hesitate when asked about his basketball idol during a recent The Deep 3 Podcast interview. The explosive 6’4″ guard from the Bahamas declared LeBron James as his greatest of all time.
VJ Edgecombe’s Basketball Awakening Through LeBron James’ Miami Years
When asked about LeBron James during the interview, Edgecombe’s response was immediate and definitive. When asked, “Is that your GOAT?” He said, “Yeah, to me that’s my GOAT.”
The Baylor star then transported back to the 2013 NBA Finals when discussing his favorite LeBron moment against San Antonio. For Edgecombe, that series left a permanent mark on him that would become his all-time favorite memory of the superstar.
“I remember seeing LeBron, the one when he blocked, I don’t know, if y’all remember this, but he blocked Splitter when he went down. So, like I put that in my chest, like he jammed him right there. You feel me? So that’s probably my favorite LeBron moment,” Edgecombe explained with obvious enthusiasm.
The youngster was referring to Game 2 of the 2013 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs when LeBron James famously blocked a dunk attempt by Tiago Splitter at the rim in the closing moments. That helped the Heat level the series to 1-1.
When asked to name his top five players of all time during the interview, Edgecombe placed LeBron at number one, followed by Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson to round out his list. This elite company demonstrates the high regard in which the young prospect holds his basketball idol.
Edgecombe’s basketball education extended beyond just watching LeBron during those Miami years. The dynamic guard also drew inspiration from Dwyane Wade, creating a blueprint for his own two-way development that would define his playing style throughout high school and college basketball.
“Wade and LeBron, but mainly Dwyane Wade,” Edgecombe said when asked about early influences on his game. The connection to Wade proves particularly fitting given Edgecombe’s playing style at Baylor, where he established himself as an elite defensive contributor while maintaining offensive versatility.
“Him being a two-way player, you know, a high-level defensive player and offensive player. So that’s something I pride myself in.” Edgecombe noted what he learned from Wade’s approach. This defensive mentality has become his calling card, posting elite steal and block rates while earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.
During his freshman season, Edgecombe averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 44% from the field. His versatility as a guard who can defend multiple positions reflects the lessons learned from studying LeBron’s complete approach to basketball throughout his career.
Projected as a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Baylor standout aims to follow his idol’s championship path and defensive excellence at basketball’s highest level.
