Sixers' Justin Edwards opens up on staying ready amid uncertain role

PHILADELPHIA -- It has been an up-and-down second season for Philadelphia 76ers forward Justin Edwards. After averaging 10.1 points as a rookie, he has not quite been able to repeat that type of production in 2025-26 as he has not received the same type of opportunities due to the Sixers being relatively healthy.

Edwards has started only seven of the 50 games he's played in compared to starting 26 of the 44 games he played as a rookie. He averaged 26.3 minutes per game in 2024-25 compared to only 14.9 at the moment in 2025-26. It has been a tough season for Edwards, but he has stayed ready when the time calls for it and he has contributed lately with the Sixers needing him to.

"Just the way the season’s been going for me," Edwards said after scoring 19 points in Saturday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. "Just kind of stay ready. Wait for my name to be called. So, some days it might not get called. Some days it might get called. So, just staying patient and just staying ready, honestly. That's how I've been approaching this season."

It can be tough for anybody to go through what Edwards has had to battle as a second-year player in this league. He played so much as a rookie due to all of the injuries the Sixers had to contend with, but has not played as much in his second season so it has been hard on him, but one has to give him a lot of credit for staying ready.

"It is tough, but can't think like that, honestly," he added. "I'm in the NBA. Part of that percentage in the NBA, so I can't think of it like that, because at the end of the day, this is my dream job. It's something that I want to do for a long time. So, it always comes back around. So I just gotta stay ready. Stay patient."

Edwards, 22, will need to keep that same mentality going forward. He will continue to be a guy the Sixers will turn to at the moment due to the players sidelined at the moment. He has a lot of skill and a great work ethic which will help him take that next step forward when Philadelphia needs him to.

"Tough thing to do," he finished. "But that's something that I—if I want to be around for a long time, something I gotta coach myself on."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Justin Edwards opens up on staying ready amid uncertain role