VJ Edgecombe leads all rookies in points, assists, steals and field goals. He also ranks No. 1 in minutes, averaging 38.9 in seven games, second in the league overall to teammate Tyrese Maxey’s 42 per night.

That’s not viable as a long-term workload for the Philadelphia guards. But with Jared McCain’s return from surgery (15 minutes in Chicago Tuesday), the distribution of playing time can owe more to matchups and opportunities earned than necessity.

Edgecombe, who traveled the hoops journey from Bimini, Bahamas, to Baylor to No. 3 pick, earned his perch atop the Kia Rookie Ladder for the second consecutive week. And he didn’t do it merely by the numbers on the score sheet . Here is the latest ranking of the NBA’s top rookies:

Weekly recap

• Jaylen Wells, whom Ladder readers will

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