The Philadelphia 76ers, one day removed from finishing out the 2025 NBA Draft, have turned their attention to a 2024 Rookie. Sixers forward Justin Edwards and the team have agreed on a three-year contract with two years guaranteed.
Last season, Edwards averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game with the Sixers while shooting 36.4% from three.
Edwards had a team option for this upcoming season worth $ 1.9 million that the Sixers declined in order to extend him. The now second-year forward will make $2 million in his first year of the new deal, a slight pay raise, and will be under team control for an additional two seasons.
Edwards, represented by Klutch Sports, is now the second player of said agency to reach an extension with the Sixers in as many seasons after his fellow former Kentucky Wildcat Tyrese Maxey signed his max extension last offseason.
Edwards went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft after one season with the Wildcats. A top prospect before the collegiate season, Edwards ultimately signed with the Sixers as an undrafted free agent on a two-way contract. The Philadelphia native quickly reminded folks why scouts were so high on him coming out of high school, and he was subsequently converted to a standard NBA contract with a team option for a second year.
Edwards continued to improve and prove his value as the season went on, encouraging the Sixers to reach this long-term contract. When most of Philadelphia’s stars, starters, and even veteran role players went down with injuries late last season, Edwards continued to shine and was the most electric part of the team, averaging 12.2 points a night on 45.4/37.8/72.7 shooting splits as a starter.
The second-year guard is now set to be a key rotation piece for a Sixers team desperate to compete in the wide-open Eastern Conference. With so much uncertainty about the Sixers’ free agency plans, locking up Edwards long-term is a big win for Daryl Morey, Elton Brand, and the entire Sixers organization.
Edwards bet on himself coming out of Kentucky and has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was right to do so. Now, he gets to keep proving that with his hometown 76ers.
