From one of the top recruits in the country to a tough year at Kentucky to giving his hometown Sixers a glimmer of hope, Justin Edwards has been through an awful lot.
It was roughly two years ago that Philly native Justin Edwards, Pennsylvania’s Mr. Basketball and a McDonald’s All-American, was appointment viewing while leading Imhotep to its second straight state title.
He was a five-star recruit, considered the best prospect in the region, the best small forward in the 2023 class, and third-best recruit in the entire country, per ESPN. Like many Wildcats before him, he was going to be one-and-done and was being mocked as one of the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Things didn’t go as planned as Edwards didn’t have the collegiate season folks were hoping for, overshadowed by top-10 picks Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham in what turned into a disappointing season for Big Blue Nation. Edwards still declared for the draft, ultimately going undrafted.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but they go exactly how they’re supposed to.
Now with his hometown Sixers, Edwards is showing the promise that once made him such a highly-touted prospect and providing a sliver of light in the darkest of seasons.
As the Sixers continue to try to help their lottery odds with losses like the one they suffered to the lowly Washington Wizards Wednesday, a player like Edwards is one of the few reasons to keep watching.
Despite what’s happening with his team and their opponents, Edwards looks increasingly like he belongs in the NBA.
“Yeah, like I said before, the game is just slowing down a little bit more for me,” he said postgame. “So, whenever I’m open I’m just taking a good look at it, and if I feel like I’m confident in my shot, I’ll shoot it. So that’s really about it.”
It’s been a Murphy’s Law year for the Sixers. Joel Embiid’s knee wouldn’t cooperate. Paul George could never get healthy. Tyrese Maxey struggled with inconsistencies before also getting hurt. Jared McCain was the runaway Rookie of the Year favorite before he was lost for the season.
And the hits just kept coming.
While the injuries were beginning to pile up, Edwards bided his time in the G League, playing very well down in Delaware for the Blue Coats. He played in just two NBA games in 2024 but when the calendar flipped to 2025, that changed.
He played 4:48 in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. The following night against the Golden State Warriors, he played 9:11. Between the injuries and Edwards earning the trust of head coach Nick Nurse, he forced his way into the rotation and hasn’t left. Even as a 21-year-old rookie, Edwards provided steady minutes in a chaotic time.
Nurse has lauded Edwards for his decision-making and seemingly always being in the right place. Even as the team has become woefully shorthanded and his role has continued to expand, Edwards is still making the right plays.
For Edwards, he hasn’t changed his approach.
“I’ve always been like that,” he said. “Even in my workouts, my workouts are like that — like two to three dribbles. You don’t really have a lot of time, especially when guys like [Paul George], Tyrese [Maxey], all of them guys come back, you have to have a quick decision. So that’s how I’ve always been.”
Edwards is a player who keeps it simple, a skillset that fits perfectly into what the Sixers will need in the future. Guys who are 6-foot-7, can make a shot and play good defense are also an invaluable commodity in the NBA. But it’s fair to wonder if Edwards can offer even a bit more.
Over his last six games, Edwards has averaged 20.3 points game. He’s done so without losing much efficiency, shooting 48.9% from the field and 47.5% from deep. As Nurse pointed out, he’s still simply taking what the defense is giving him.
But it’s enough to make you dream on Edwards’ potential.
His lefty stroke is smooth and fluid. With his size, he’s easily able to hoist up over defenders. Over his last 22 games, he’s made 39.1% of his shots from deep on over five attempts a game.
He’s been excellent putting the ball on the floor and getting to his spots — either pulling up a couple feet in front of a potential shot blocker or taking on smaller defenders and getting all the way to the rim. He’s also flashed a bit as a playmaker with the ability to spray the ball out to shooters on drives.
Nurse has consistently given Edwards tough defensive assignments — the type you typically don’t give to a 21-year-old rookie. Edwards has had his ups and downs in those matchups, but he’s shown a great propensity to have a short-term memory, always ready to defend again on the next possession.
He’s still showing all this off, despite hitting a bit of a rookie wall.
“Yeah, this road trip we just came off of,” he said when asked if the long season is catching up to him, “but that’s what I signed up for, so I’m just going to do what I can do in the recovery and just keep doing that moving forward.”
Given where the Sixers are with their roster, Edwards will likely be a big part of the rotation next season. Hell, there’s a decent chance he finds his way into the starting lineup depending how things shake out.
This isn’t how Edwards thought this would all go, but everything is right there for taking.