Philadelphia 76ers Practice Media Availability | VJ Edgecombe and Hunter Sallis | 07.01.25

Philadelphia 76ers Practice Media Availability | VJ Edgecombe and Hunter Sallis | 07.01.25

Of course, BJ, you were pretty um adamant at your press conference that you’re like my first priority is getting to know my new teammates. How have you gone about doing that the last few days?
It’s been great. Um got to know almost everybody. I think actually I think I got to know everybody. Building relationships daily, you know, getting to know players even on the floor, where they like the ball, what’s their preference and stuff like that. So, yeah, it’s been great.
How was the day the first practice?
Yeah. No, it was great. Um, little fatiguing, I’m going be honest. But yeah, it’s it’s been great. You know, I I like what’s going on over here for sure.
Cuz like I guess fatigue cuz due to the draft process, you shut a lot of this
Yeah. Yeah. This is my first time on the court days. So, but you know, the rest is important. So, you know, I’m doing what’s what’s best for me. I I know this isn’t like the NBA regular season, but as a you excited about summer league because it’s something that I assume you saw and you followed, you know, while you were in high school, seeing the guys after they get playing.
Yeah. No, I’m super excited for summer league because, you know, some of these some of them going to be my teammates. Um, you know, I’m just willing to see how how I operate within the system. Um, you know, it might be just a small preview of what’s going to happen throughout the season, but you know, I’m just happy to be here. I know it’s early, but what do you pick up from some of the older guys that are here today like Justin, Jared, guys? Just little things on the floor. Um, just in different situations, you know. Um, so that’s that was been the main thing. So, I’m just I’m learning from everybody, even everyone on the coaching staff teaching me something, you know, when it’s even if it’s on defense or offense, it don’t matter.
What are sort of your priorities as far as what areas of your game you really want to start to develop within this system just as you go through?
Yeah. um being more of a point guard. Um but also being aggressive um just being a great teammate. You know, look, you know, always want to encourage my teammates at all times. Doesn’t matter, you know, the flow of the game. Just always want to be an encouraging person. Um but definitely just be uh be a point guard, be a better point guard. Um you know, continue shooting the ball, continue working on that, working on every little aspect of my game to be honest. Finishing, play making, ball handle, everything. DJ, we’ve seen some of your skill work you’ve been doing with trainers and whatnot. Clips have come out from that. I guess what has been the biggest focus for you during this period since your season ended up until now?
Uh, just skill work.
Yeah, just my shot, my jump shot. Um, you know what I’m saying? You always want to be as consistent as possible. Um, you know, you always want to make shots. So, just just elaborating on that. Just get my get my shot better. Then literally every day I’m working on that. it ain’t it go by I ain’t working on my jump shot.
You started taking more shots off the screens and off movement I think in the second half of the year at Baylor. Like where’s your comfort level on those shots right now? And how much time are you spending on that?
No, I’m super comfortable every day. I work on that. Working on it every day up to this day. Like yesterday I was working on it. Um so like I said, I’m just trying to get better. You know what I’m saying? Trying to be as comfortable in all aspects uh of the game as possible. How would you describe this coaching staff like getting the chance to work with them on the court for the first time? Yeah, it’s a great coaching staff. Um, they they tell you something every day. Uh, energy givers, you know, it’s never that day and there with the coaching staff around for sure. So, you know, like I said, they all super engaged, you know, they all tell teaching you something new. So, I’m enjoying it. Thanks,
thank you. Hunter, I guess can you just sort of start with how this opportunity sort of came together for you?
Yeah. Um, I say just on draft night, um, just getting a call from, you know, the staff, it was it was great, you know, hearing like how interested they are in me and just having a program that really wants me. So, um, it it it’s been great for sure. You had the o a lot of people thought you were going to enter the draft last year. That decision came kind of late, I believe. Um, what do you think you learned from this past year going back to school that that has helped prepare better?
Yeah. Um, I just feel like I got another year under my belt of just experience. Um, which I think is huge, you know, coming into a you know, a big time organization like this and um, definitely just looking forward to just learning and u, you know, just taking one step at a time with with this opportunity.
Sorry. What have your early conversations been like with Jay and Jai and some of the other guys here? Yeah, I mean it’s just been about uh you know winning the summer league. Um that’s been the the first step on our mind and um you know that’s been the primary focus, but you know just being around guys like that. You know VJ a crazy athlete, you know uh really skilled and you know JB he’s one of the best you know college guys that there’s been in a while. So u it’s it’s been great being around those guys for sure.
Clearly you’re competitive and you want to win just now but summer league is also obviously about skill development I guess. How do you sort of try to balance those two where I’m sure when you’re on the court you’re just going to want to have more points than the other team, but sometimes you have to have the bigger picture in mind.
Yeah, I think the biggest thing is just like right here like in in these moments like we had earlier today and you know for the rest of this week just getting better as a team, getting better individually, doing our work outside and um I think that’s how we get better and then you know obviously just winning summer league has been the primary focus and what’s really been on our mind. So yeah, you mentioned BJ’s a crazy athlete. What have you seen anything on the court even where that’s shown up in just one practice?
Yeah, I mean like you could just tell how he moves like the way he walks, things like that. Um definitely a crazy athlete. You can see him just in certain drills just go explode and dunk something super explosive. So, uh yeah, you just see a glimpse of that for sure. Are there when you talk about that skill development, are there certain areas of your game that you want to either showcase or work on or kind of just specific elements that you have in mind when you look ahead to this month? Yeah, I think defensively um that’s, you know, an area that I really want to show that I’m really good at. Um, you know, just becoming a more consistent knockdown shooter. I think that’ll I mean that goes a long way with any team in this league. So, um, definitely the two main focuses of my skill development for sure.
Speaking of the shooting, you had a really good junior year shooting the ball and, you know, a little less so last year, I guess. How do you feel about your shot right now? and you know, maybe what contributed to that last year, whether it was types of shots you were getting or or whatever else.
Yeah, like you said, um I’m I’m real confident right now and how I’m shooting the ball. I’m shooting the ball really well. Um and I just say like in terms of last year, I just think having the ball in my hands a lot more. Um you know, I was creating a lot more shots for other people instead of, you know, last year I played off the ball a lot more. You know, had a lot more people creating shots for me. So, I think that was the biggest difference. But um you know just figuring figuring it out at this level for sure. But I think that’s not too much to worry about.
Do you think that experience playing in different roles will help you in an environment like this where you guys are going to practice for a few days and then you’re going to be playing in a game and everything is sort of being jumbled together pretty quickly. Do you think just being able to have your offensive role fluctuate depending on what the team needs? Do you feel like that that makes you sort of suit it for this sort of environment?
Yeah, definitely. And I mean, just being around like high level guys, I feel like there’s so much to learn from, you know, each guy on this roster. Um, and I think that, you know, that helps going into, you know, next week for sure. But, um, yeah, definitely like you said, just being ready and being, um, opportunistic for anything. Just being able to, uh, learn for sure. Cool. Thank you, sir. Thank you guys.

Rookies VJ Edgecombe and Hunter Sallis speak to the media.