Sixers X Factor: Evaluating Tyrese Maxey’s Future Impact

Whether James Harden returns or not this season seems to be irrelevant to what the Sixers expect out of Tyrese Maxey this coming season. The 22-year-old guard has improved in multiple statistical categories every single year since going 21st overall in the 2020 NBA draft. It’s been a meteoric rise, dare we say, Jalen Hurts-esque?

"Maxey in 2020-21: 8.0 points and 2.0 assists in 15.3 minutes per game; 46.2% from the field, 30.1% from three-point land; 61 total games. Maxey in 2021-22: 17.5 points and 4.3 assists in 35.3 minutes per game; 48.5% from the field, 42.7% from three-point land; 75 total games. Maxey in 2022-23: 20.3 points and 3.5 assists in 33.6 minutes per game; 48.1% from the field, 43.4% from three-point land; 60 total games."

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him take another major step in his development as he enters his fourth professional season. It’s kind of expected. ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne recently reported that Maxey has been in the lab all summer — working out with his trainer, Chris Johnson, as well as with Joel Embiid’s trainer Drew Hanlen.

Interestingly, Shelburne dropped this little nugget (h/t Dave Malandra):

"“Tyrese Maxey is expected to have a major role for the Sixers. He will have an even bigger role for the Sixers if James Harden does not play for them this year, but it’s go time for Tyrese Maxey. And Joel Embiid, he’s very excited about the team with James Harden … he’s also very excited about the ceiling for Tyrese Maxey because you’ve seen him grow. They are obviously not extending him this summer but he is a big part of their future and they will extend him when the time comes.”"

Again, the Sixers are waiting for the right time to reward Maxey. His extension is given once the franchise figures out how it wants to structure the future while managing the NBA’s ever-changing salary cap.