76ers Rookie Edgecombe Slumps After Promising Start, Coach Accepts Blame

In the early stages of the 2025-26 NBA season, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Edgecombe emerged as a surprise sensation, wowing fans with his athleticism and scoring prowess. However, the 20-year-old's production has taken a significant dip over the past month.

After averaging a strong 21.2 points on 49.4% shooting (43.8% from three) in his first five games, Edgecombe's numbers have plummeted to just 10.5 points per game on a dismal 31.5% efficiency, including a 26.9% mark from beyond the arc. His struggles were highlighted in a recent outing against the Boston Celtics, where he managed only 6 points on 2-of-11 shooting.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged that he needs to shoulder the blame for Edgecombe's slump. Nurse stated that he has to do a better job of putting the talented guard in situations where he can be more aggressive and assertive on the offensive end.

"I think we certainly want him to be aggressive and we try to convey that to him. He needs to kind of take that and run with it a little bit more," Nurse said. "I need to set up and give him some situations where you're saying, like, this is for you to attack. And we probably haven't done a good enough job of that from a coaching standpoint."

With the season still in its early stages, Edgecombe and the 76ers will have ample opportunities to turn things around. They will face a crucial test on Friday, as they take on the current Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in a marquee matchup.