Philly native Justin Edwards shows the Sixers he’s ready to contribute

Justin Edwards has improved with each appearance.

He was the 76ers’ main bright spot in Tuesday’s 118-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Imhotep Charter standout finished with career highs across the board, including points (25), three-pointers (four), rebounds (six), assists (four) and minutes played (35:01).

“It really just comes down to the reps and the players and the coaches believing in me and just telling me to just be myself out there,” Edwards said of his comfort level. “So that plays a big part in that.”

The 6-foot-8 forward, who went undrafted, received extended minutes because the Sixers (15-23) played without eight key players. But this performance could lead to more minutes when Edwards’ injured teammates return.

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Edwards, just 21 years old and a two-way player, scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the first half. He followed with eight points in the third quarter on 3-for-6 shooting. His three-pointer with 10 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter pulled the Sixers within five points (89-84). Not bad for a player making his ninth NBA appearance.

“I think he’s really really improving,” coach Nick Nurse said. “Again, he gives a really good effort on the defensive end. He’s capable of guarding lots of positions defensively, and he’s got a good feel offensively. Again, the ball finds him because he’s moving to the right place at the right time. I thought he took a good number of threes [nine] that were there.”

Edwards credits his performance to playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ NBA G League affiliate.

“It helped a lot, honestly,” he said. “I feel like it helped build my confidence, that’s really the biggest thing for me. Coming here I didn’t really have a lot of confidence in myself. Playing down in the G League really helped me get my confidence back.”

Edwards appears to be playing with the confidence he had as the nation’s third-best college prospect in the 2023 high school class.

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Back then, he averaged 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading Imhotep to a 30-3 record, a PIAA Class 5A state championship, and No. 11 national ranking.

His lone season at Kentucky featured mixed results. Edwards averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds as a freshman before becoming the first top-three recruit to go unselected in the NBA draft. But that disappointing distinction led Edwards to a deal with his hometown Sixers.

“It means a lot,” said Edwards, who spent part of his childhood in Frankford. “Like I said before, just being a child, growing up here, watching games and stuff. So it means a lot to be able to put on for my family and friends and my hometown.”