SPORTS SECTION E
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026
‘I never see him show much emotion...He just plays the game’ By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
VALDEZ ‘VJ’ Edgecombe retook centre stage this weekend, carrying the Philadelphia 76ers through two of their biggest moments in as many days and reminding everyone why he’s still a major factor in the rookie of the year conversation. On Saturday at Madison Square Garden, Edgecombe poured in 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, going 4-of-9 from deep while adding four assists, two rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in 41 minutes in a 130-119 win over the New York Knicks, a full two-way performance that helped the Sixers close the game out. That performance came on the heels of the moment that put him on every highlight reel: the game-winning 25-foot three-pointer in overtime over Ja Morant that beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. Edgecombe’s late triple (a 25-point night overall) fell with 1.7 seconds left in OT and capped a furious comeback in which he produced 13 of his points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. He played the role of closer without blinking, a clutch finish that assured Philadelphia a 139136 road victory and gave the rookie another signature moment. On the game-winner Edgecombe shrugged and kept it simple: “To be honest, I was actually trying to go when the buzzer (went) off, but it was a little bit too early. But it went in, and that’s all that matters.” Through those two games, Edgecombe’s recent surge is obvious. For January so far, Edgecombe is averaging 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists on 63 percent shooting and 46.7 percent from the three. For the season he’s averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Edgecombe’s rapid rise has also moved him up the
‘VJ’ Edgecombe showing why he’s still a major player in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ conversation Rookie of the Year ladder. The NBA’s weekly Kia Rookie Ladder show Edgecombe climbing from a mid-top five spot in earlier weeks into the top three this week, with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel among the other names currently occupying the top spots. Paul George, who has watched Edgecombe’s progress up close, has been effusive saying, “Watching him was like watching a young Jimmy (Butler).” Joel Embiid, reflecting on the rookie’s shooting development, added, “Coming out of college, I was told he was a bad shooter. And he’s been a great three-point shooter since he got here.” Tyrese Maxey, who has been both provider and partner in Philly’s backcourt, summed it up simply after Saturday’s game, “He’s good this game, then he’s good the next game, then he’s good the next game. At what point do you just say he’s good?” And coach Nick Nurse captured the temperament that keeps Edgecombe steady: “I never see him show much emotion. I think it’s an incredible quality. He just plays the game.” What stands out about Edgecombe is consistency in impact more than boxscore volume. Even nights when he isn’t leading the team in scoring, he finds ways to affect the outcome with multiple steals, blocks, momentum plays, and threes that mock the play of a seasoned veteran. If he keeps delivering this two-way value, the Rookie of the Year debate will only become stronger, and Philadelphia’s investment in him will look more and more justified. For now, the 20-year-old continues to do what he’s done best this season, play and let the basketball speak.
76ERS guard Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks on Saturday, January 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
‘Raw’ Williams challenges ‘Reno’ Johnson By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
RASHIELD “Raw” Williams
RASHIELD “Raw” Williams is preparing for his next international professional boxing match this month but, at the same time, he's calling Taureano 'Reno' Johnson for a local challenge match. Williams, 36, has a date set for 6pm Saturday, January 24, against Jamaica's Nico Yeyo in "The Final Showdown" pro show at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana. But while Williams calls it "easy work," he said he wants to challenge Johnson, the top Bahamian fighter, who previously held the World Boxing Council's Silver middleweight title. Johnson, 41, has been inactive since he lost
to Jaime Munguie for the vacant World Boxing Oraganization's Inter-Continental Middleweight title on October 30, 2020. He held a 21-3-1 win-loss-draw record at the time. "I want to tell him, let's do this. He ain't the best. I am the best," said Williams, who is currently 13-3 and coming off his last victory over Nestor Gonzalez on April 25, 2025. "People think he was, but he ain't. He has these people thinking he is the best. But I beat him before and I want to beat him again." It was during a sparring session at the National Boxing Centre as Johnson was preparing for one of his international fights that Williams said he knocked down Johnson. He said he's been after Johnson for a while and is now ready to
get into the ring for a real fight to prove his point. "Everyone is looking at him as the best fighter, but I have to show it," said Williams, the former World Boxing Association welterweight champion. 'I have a fight on January 24 and after that, I'm coming for Taureano." In his scheduled fight against Yeyo, who is 5-3 and coming off a victory on November 23 over Kevin Hylton at the National Indoor Centre in Kingston, Jamaica, Williams said "it's easy work. "It's easy work. I ain't playin with nobody. Everyone is getting their head knocked off. I am looking ahead to Taureano. That's the match-up I am looking for." To Yeyo, Williams warned him to be prepared for an early night.
"I expect nothing but a knockout. I'm the knockout king," Williams predicted. "There can only be one king and that is me. Every fight I go into I'm confident and ready." In preparation for the fight, Williams is currently in town training at both the National Boxing Centre at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and Ronn Rodgers' Strikers Boxing Club on Boyd Road. "I'm working on my endurance, jogging and running and I will be doing some sparring with Carl 'Flashy King' Hield, starting next week. He's going to give me that boost to help me out." Once he's done with Yeyo, Williams said he will return home and start preparing for the possible showdown with Johnson, if he accepts the challenge.