Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe meets NBA legend Dwyane Wade in surreal moment at Aramis event | NBA News
At the Aramis launch event in Bloomingdale this week, rookie guard VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers had an amazing experience. During the same, he connected with Dwyane Wade, a player he was compared to prior to the draft. Wade has been collaborating with Aramis, an Estée Lauder fragrance brand, as part of his off-court commercial endeavors. Images that Edgecombe met Wade at the Aramis launch event have recently gone viral on social media as well.
VJ Edgecombe met NBA legend Dwyane Wade at Aramis launch in a surreal moment before 2025–26 season
The Philadelphia 76ers wanted to improve their lineup for the upcoming season after the 2024-25 NBA season ended in disappointment. In the 2025 NBA draft, they chose VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick.Edgecombe was regarded as one of the best players in the 2024 class and a five-star prospect by most. He started getting attention shortly after he joined the league as Benedict Mathurin made headlines by disparaging him before his NBA debut.During his first summer league match against the Utah Jazz, VJ Edgecombe left a mark even after reportedly facing hate speech. The 76ers fans eagerly awaited him during the 2025–2026 NBA season. Edgecombe, however, got a chance to meet a legend before the season started.He met NBA legend Dwyane Wade at the widely shared Aramis launch, according to the social media images that went viral. Wade and Aramis work together on his off-court commercial endeavors. Seeing him at the launch ceremony was expected, but for Edgecombe, it was surreal.The Hall of Famer was present there because he has been aggressively building his post-NBA portfolio through ownership, sponsorships, and the media. However, it was a full-circle introduction for Edgecombe. Edgecombe had been compared with D-Wade. Wade was a skilled scorer who could dominate in crucial situations and create the half-court when he first joined the NBA. In contrast, Edgecombe remains undeveloped in areas such as creating shots, pulling up shots, and managing significant offensive responsibilities. Nevertheless, he is talented and with right guidance and enough practice, he can actually be like Wade.
Dwyane Wade joins Aramis as global ambassador as Gabrielle Union-Wade shares photos on social media
NBA legend Dwyane Wade made news last month when it was announced that he would be the new face of the high-end fragrance line Aramis. Gabrielle Union-Wade, his actress wife, then posted a touching Instagram story that captured his husband’s recent achievement. During an event of Aramis, the couple were dressed in matching black and white outfits. The event took place three months after the NBA icon announced that he will serve as Aramis’ global ambassador.Later, during an interview, while talking about it, D-Wade said: “As a young boy, you’re very impressionable. And I was impressed by my father and my uncles growing up.. I saw them do [it] every time they got ready: when they got fresh, they hit themselves with the cologne before they walked out the door. I used to wear my dad’s cologne when I was a kid—it was way too strong for me back then.”Aramis and the player also collaborated on the campaign’s artistic direction. Also read: Gabrielle Union shares Instagram story in matching outfits with Dwyane Wade to celebrate his Aramis debut
