NEW YORK — For a young player trying to carve out a role in the NBA, patience isn’t just a virtue—it’s a survival skill. Justin Edwards, the Philadelphia native and second-year forward for the 76ers, knows that better than most after navigating an up-and-down season where playing time has come and gone like a fast break.
Under head coach Nick Nurse, Edwards has been shuffled in and out of the rotation as the team searches for the right combinations on the floor. It’s a test of mental toughness as much as physical readiness. In the 2025-26 regular season, Edwards averaged 6.0 points and 1.5 rebounds while knocking down 37.2% of his three-pointers. His playoff numbers have dipped slightly—3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds on 33.3% shooting from deep—but he’s appeared in seven of eight postseason games, often in short bursts.
“Just staying ready,” Edwards said. “Honestly, that’s all I can do. Can’t go in the game worried about what happened the game before. You gotta prepare for that game.”
That mindset is crucial during a playoff run where every possession feels magnified. For Edwards, this postseason has been a crash course in what it takes to win when the stakes are highest. The biggest lesson so far? Sacrifice.
“That we gotta sacrifice,” Edwards explained. “That’s something that KLow (Kyle Lowry) mentioned before the playoffs started, that a lot of guys are going to have to sacrifice playing time. Just a lot of sacrifice, honestly.”
And sacrifice isn’t just about minutes—it’s about energy, focus, and team chemistry. Edwards and the rest of the Sixers’ bench have embraced their role as the team’s loudest supporters, standing and cheering for their teammates as if they were on the court themselves.
“Just shows the type of team we have,” Edwards added. “We’re all happy for one another, whether you play or not, and I feel like last series, that’s something that we showed. Just being really excited on the bench for our team.”
As the Sixers push deeper into the playoffs, Edwards continues to soak up every moment—learning that in the NBA, sometimes the most valuable plays happen before you even step on the floor. Whether he’s checking in for a key defensive stop or leading the cheers from the sideline, he’s proving that staying ready is a skill in itself.