The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Move to 76ers’ starting five has rekindled Tyrese Maxey’s stardom

Kunal Chawda|
Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers are just 3 wins away from matching the most wins in a season record in Embiid’s era. A lot of credit has to be given to the Sixers’ offense for a great 26-9 record in the 2023 calendar year. The Sixers’ offense is now free-flowing and is led by their trio, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and James Harden. While Embiid and Harden are currently sharing the limelight, 22-year-old Tyrese Maxey is also reaching new heights in the 2023 season.

Drafted in 2020 as the 21st overall pick, Tyrese Maxey has exceeded expectations quickly. He is currently the team’s third top scorer and assists maker and has been a deciding factor in the game’s outcome on many occasions. Playing under the shadow of Embiid and Harden, Maxey has his fan base, which is growing after every game.

Ben Simmons sitting out for the complete 2022 season handed Maxey more game time and eventually helped him to make faster progress in the Philly colors. Harden’s inclusion in the team did limit his role, but he still had his moments of magic in the games in that period. It impressed the coaching staff, giving him the starting role in the 2023 season. Looking at his work ethic and athleticism, Coach Rivers already predicted a bright future for the young Maxey.

Tyrese Maxey will play an important role in the 2023 playoffs for the team.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking like a solid title contender this season. One of the positives for the Sixers was the development of Tyrese Maxey into an elite All-Star-level player. Now in his third NBA season, Maxey began the year looking like one of the league’s rising young stars. He had a break-out year in 2022 but even bettered his productivity in the 2023 season.

Maxey got off to a red-hot start before his injury in mid-November. Shooting above 45 percent from the field, Maxey averaged 22.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists till injury kept him away. He even managed to drain three long-range shots per game on seven attempts. After his move to the bench, his output dropped to 17.4 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 three-pointers. He was highly contested in the period, but he still maintained 45.3 percent shooting and 37.0 percent conversion from deep.

Out of these statistics, Tyrese’s important role for the 76ers is providing an extra offensive option on the court. The Philly team is currently one of the top offensive teams in the league, with James Harden leading the assists stats and top MVP candidate Joel Embiid leading the scoring stats in the league.

Maxey also has six games with 30+ points against six different opponents. He is constantly contributing around 20 points as a starter which is a very useful contribution to carry Embiid’s rhythm. His career-high 44-point game against the Raptors early in the season changed his status from an “upgrading rookie” to an “explosive scorer”.

Stacked with impressive numbers on the board, Maxey ranked 11th in the shooting guards ranking by Christopher Kline, which is a high ranking considering his experience.

Tyrese Maxey deserves a starting role in the Philadelphia 76ers’ team.

Maxey might not be leading in either of the offensive categories for the team, but his presence on the floor and off-ball moments is attracting defenders and creating open spaces for the team. Moreover, he has taken over the PG role in the absence of James Harden, which is certainly a huge shoe to fill, and he has done that seamlessly. With Embiid off-the court also, Maxey and Harden up the game’s tempo to create more chances, showcasing the youngster’s ability to adjust his plays.

When Maxey starts with Embiid, Harden, P.J. Tucker and Tobias Harris, the Sixers have massive 125.7 points average per 100 possessions, outscoring opponents by 16.7 points. When Maxey comes off the bench, the stats take a serious hit (point differential of 0.4).

The best role that will benefit Maxey and the Sixers is playing more minutes with fellow leaders to deal more damage. Keeping an eye on the defensive abilities of opponents like the Celtics, the Bucks, and the Cavs, using 3 primary shooters in starting line-up, would be very useful.