VJ Edgecombe “It might sound crazy, but I would rather lead the Bahamas to the Olympics than win the NBA championship. We never qualified, we’re a small nation and we’re not known for basketball. For the USA, y’all win all the time. But for my country, that would be of the best things in the world”
From Day 1, LeBron James declared he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers “to have a chance at winning a championship.”
He said the move wasn’t for money or family, and he’s been clear about what a perfect world looks like for him: holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy on behalf of Philadelphia.
VJ Edgecombe would certainly like to do that, too.
That’s just not his ultimate goal.
Speaking on new teammate Jaylen Brown’s Twitch stream Friday night, Edgecombe expressed what it would mean to lead his native Bahamian national team to an appearance in the Summer Olympics.
“It might sound crazy,” he said, “but I would rather do that than win the championship.”
Brown then asked him to clarify whether he meant winning Gold or simply qualifying for the Games. Edgecombe, an NBA Rookie of the Year finalist last season out of Baylor, explained that his native Bahamas had never qualified for the Olympics.
“Small country,” Edgecombe said of the island nation of approximately 400,000 people. “We’re not known for basketball.”
The Bahamas came within a win of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Games during the last Olympic cycle. After going 4-0 in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Argentina, they advanced to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament final in Valencia against Spain.
Despite an NBA-laden roster led by Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon, alongside a then-18-year-old Edgecombe, the Bahamians lost to Spain 86-78 and missed the opportunity to compete in Paris.
Talking to Brown Friday, Edgecombe, 21, expanded on why taking that last step and qualifying for the Games would be so special.
“More so for the community and for the country,” he said. “It’ll bring more attention for other kids in that position. Now everyone is starting to look into the Bahamas and at least kind of notice them.
“I’ve been to all these different camps, and I wasn’t noticed early. So I think that would help show that we got a little (talent).”
Edgecombe hails from the island of Bimini in the Bahamas and immigrated to the United States in the ninth grade.
After first arriving in Florida, he eventually attended Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, N.Y., as a boarding student. He was named the 2023 New York Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
As the No. 5 recruit in 247 Sports’ Class of 2024 composite rankings, Edgecombe chose Baylor over a litany of schools. After one season with the Bears, Philadelphia drafted him with the third pick in 2025, and he averaged 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game last season. He finished third in rookie of the year voting behind Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel.
Now on a roster featuring former MVPs James and Joel Embiid, along with All-NBA talents Brown and Tyrese Maxey, expectations have rocketed toward a championship-or-bust season.
That’s what the 41-year-old NBA all-time leading scorer signed for at least.
While that also remains paramount for Edgecombe, it doesn’t curb his longing to establish his national team among the best on the globe at arguably the planet’s biggest sporting event.
“For the USA, y’all win all the time,” he said. “But for my country, that’s probably one of the best things in the world.”
No matter how crazy it sounds.
“That’ll be a headline,” Edgecombe said. “Don’t care, though.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7676397/2026/10/10/vj-edgecombe-olympics-bahamas-nba-title/