76ers Top 5 Most Memorable Plays – (#5) Tyrese Maxey Layup
TOTH to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.
"“They [Grizzlies] like to punk teams and they have punked a lot of teams in this league. We weren’t going to let that happen tonight.” – Tobias Harris"
If there was ever a consolation prize for missing on so many draft packs during the early “Process” Era, Tyrese Maxey would fit that description. A steal at pick 21 in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Kentucky guard prodigy only averaged 8.0 points per game his rookie season.
Then, he turned around the very next season to more than double his scoring average at 17.5 PPG. His value has launched into another atmospheric realm, and the plays he’s made so far are nothing short of remarkable.
Take the final play of a key January matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. First, let’s look at some context. In a game that the Philadelphia 76ers played without Joel Embiid, Shake Milton, and Furkan Korkmaz, somebody had to step up and lead the team. Maxey did so, and he did it quite impressively, scoring a team-high 33 points. In this game, where Ja Morant was as electric as any opponent Philly would face all year, it was Maxey who scored the last bucket to secure the win.
With Memphis trying to take the lead in the final seconds of overtime, Zaire Williams missed a corner 3-pointer. Then, Matisse Thybulle rebounded the ball and kicked it out to Maxey, where he scored a left-handed layup. As he streaked down the court, fans rose out of their seats and raised their arms as Maxey sealed the game. He pumped his fist and embraced a moment in South Philly that is well worth making this top 5 moments list.