Sixers begin Summer League play today in Salt Lake City

We get our first look at 2025 draft picks VJ Edgecombe and Johni Broome as they and the rest of the Summer Sixers face the Jazz.

It feels like just yesterday we were rooting for the Philadelphia 76ers to lose basketball games to increase their lottery odds. To continue this stilted metaphor, it seems like just an hour ago those odds paid off, with the Sixers getting the third overall pick and selecting VJ Edgecombe. Well, now we can once again root for the Sixers to win basketball games, as Edgecombe, 35th overall pick Johni Broome, and the rest of the Summer Sixers face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

As a reminder, here’s the full roster for the Sixers as they head into Summer League play.

Edgecombe is undoubtedly the headliner, as we get a first glimpse of his tremendous athleticism and two-way prowess in a Sixers uniform. It seems like the focus for VJ this summer is enhancing his on-ball capability. While we won’t need to see much “Point VJ” during the regular season with Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid around (not to mention Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes), this is the perfect setting for Edgecombe to work on that area of his game.

Broome had a highly successful college career, and the biggest question for him is how well his below-the-rim game will translate at the NBA level. I’m not sure whether we’ll find those answers in a Summer League environment, as it could be a case where he continues to excel against AAAA-type players. But it would obviously still be encouraging to see Broome stand out here.

Second-year players Justin Edwards and Adem Bona are also getting some run, and the hope is that they look like “Too Good for Summer League” guys. We might see Bona take some more outside shots than he does with the big club, as that’s an area of his game he has been working on and this is the perfect sandbox in which to see some results.

On the opposing sideline, here’s what the Utah Jazz are rolling out for Summer League action.

Many eyes will be on fifth overall pick Ace Bailey, following all the drama around his pre-draft process. The oddness there has continued to Summer League, with Omar Cooper Jr., son of Bailey’s not-actually-certified agent, serving as a guest coach. Elsewhere, I’m bullish on the prospects of 18th overall pick Walter Clayton Jr., and excited to see him at the next level. Former Sixer Jaden Springer is also on the roster. He appeared with the Jazz for 17 games last season after Boston traded him to Houston, where he was then waived and signed with Utah.

Anyone else you’ve particularly excited to watch? Maybe two-way signing Hunter Sallis or Delaware Blue Coat Judah Mintz? Let us know in the comments.

(Summer) Sixers vs. Jazz Game Details

When: Saturday, July 5, 9:00 pm ET
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Watch: ESPN
Follow: @LibertyBallers