76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe wins Rising Stars Challenge MVP at NBA All-Star Weekend

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edgecombe-jr-valdez/GSA6NTGG/"]Edgecombe[/a], who has emerged as one of the league's most efficient performers in "clutch" time - the final five minutes of close games - was named Most Valuable Player of the challenge.[/p][p]It featured three teams of rookies and second-year players and a team of G League talent in a mini-tournament.[/p][p]Edgecombe drilled a pair of game-winning free throws as Team [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carter-vince/QRbB2BXf/"]Vince[/a] beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anthony-carmelo/6Fcb5SwM/"]Carmelo Anthony[/a]'s Team Melo 25-24 in the rapid-fire championship game in which the first team to 25 points won.[/p][embed guid="695540b7-038b-4b80-96f1-4591545e6ae4" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2022534605824495987?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-antonio-spurs/IwmkErSH/"]San Antonio[/a]'s 2025 Rookie of the Year [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/castle-stephon/Kzd3IGeT/"]Stephon Castle[/a] had put Team Melo up 24-23 with a tip-in dunk, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clingan-donovan/Kf8YB3h2/"]Donovan Clingan[/a] fouled Edgecombe on the other end, and the 20-year-old from the Bahamas closed it out.[/p][p]Edgecombe, the third overall pick in the 2025 draft, had delivered the game-winner in his team's 41-36 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcgrady-tracy/EuHwcQxg/"]Tracy McGrady[/a]'s Team T-Mac to reach the title contest.[/p][p]In the other semi-final - both played to 40 points - Team Melo closed with a 12-2 scoring run to beat the team of G League players coached by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rivers-austin/23fIH2fd/"]Austin Rivers[/a] 40-34.[/p][p]San Antonio rookie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harper-dylan/E95BW6Df/"]Dylan Harper[/a], the second overall pick in the 2025 draft, closed out that win with a step-back basket over his brother [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harper-ronald/Cl9nCTx9/"]Ron Harper[/a] Jr. - a G League regular who has played for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Boston[/a] Celtics on a two-way contract this season.[/p][p]Like Sunday's All-Star Game proper, the Rising Stars Challenge at the Intuit Dome - home of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-clippers/vPeTYlqm/"]Los Angeles Clippers[/a] - was hit by injuries.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-mavericks/YouS3mEC/"]Dallas[/a] rookie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/flagg-cooper/dInnahrB/"]Cooper Flagg[/a], the top overall pick in the 2025 draft, was ruled out with a sprained foot.[/p][p]The All-Star festivities continue on Saturday with the Slam Dunk Contest, the Three-Point Contest, and the Skills Challenge.[/p][embed guid="fcdcc2e2-2475-4106-9af8-009b862538ec" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2022524509908017561?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]