Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey is as good as advertised

2021 seemed like a blur. The pandemic was still raging along, times were very uncertain, no one really knew when life would fully go back to normal, but the tide was starting to turn. Gradually, the NBA was in full swing, and in the truncated 72-game season, the Philadelphia 76ers was the number one seed that year.

No need to go down memory lane cause we all know how that season ended, but besides Joel Embiid having a breakout season, the player that was on many a fans’ radars in Philadelphia was Tyrese Maxey. The late first draft pick was considered a steal for the Sixers considering that he was a lottery pick talent who slid down to number 21 in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Tyrese Maxey is becoming special for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The talent was there. It was clearly seen, so much so, that twice Maxey was mentioned in trade talks with the 76ers. Daryl Morey president of basketball operation, seeing what he possibly had in the 20-year-old guard, quickly panned any talks of moving him.

Now in his second year, we are seeing the fruit starting to bloom from the branches of playing alongside established stars like James Harden and the aforementioned Embiid. Tyrese Maxey is next up and he is the third piece of the Sixers’ new “Big 3”.

In 75 games this season, Maxey has increased in every statistical category being thrust into the starting lineup. Averaging 17.5 points on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 42.7 percent from three, he has proven to be capable of giving the Sixers a scoring punch that Toronto will have to pay more attention to going forward. This comes after his Game 1 performance of 38 points and 14 assists.

The new wave has arrived. We are seeing the new generation rising up before our eyes. Guys like Trae Young, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, and Anthony Edwards, are showing us that the league is going to be in good hands for years to come.

Fans can add Tyrese Maxey to that list as well. If the Philadelphia 76ers are going to make a serious run to the NBA Finals, Maxey is going to be a key factor in this team’s title hopes.