For years, the face of the Philadelphia Sixers' franchise was Joel Embiid, but over the past year, that changed. He played only 19 games in the 2024-25 season, and so far this season, he has played nine of the team's 23 games. It's no longer all about Embiid, but instead, Tyrese Maxey, who is in his sixth season with the Sixers.
Fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena have rained down MVP chants for Maxey while he's at the free-throw line, something that he wasn't used to. Fans had previously reserved those chants for Embiid, who won the 2022-23 NBA MVP award. It's not hard to understand why they're now doing so when Maxey steps up to the foul line.
The 25-year-old is averaging a career-best 31.5 points, 7.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 46.7/39.1/88.1 shooting splits. Maxey is averaging a career-high 39.9 minutes per game.
He is well on his way to not only his second All-Star selection, but he looks like an All-NBA candidate.
The Sixers are Tyrese Maxey's team
Last week, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne said on NBA Today that over the summer, Philadelphia had to "pivot" toward Maxey amid Embiid and Paul George's injury woes, handing the keys to the team over to him. Shelburne didn't need to say that for fans to know. Maxey carried a lot of pressure last season with Embiid and George sidelined.
That experience last season, as challenging as it was, helped Maxey prepare for the 2025-26 season, both mentally and physically. He's been tremendous, keeping the Sixers competitive as questions about Embiid's future have continued to rise.
Maxey's play hasn't been enough to make fans forget about Embiid, not by any stretch of imagination, but it's helped. Of course, it also helps that Kelly Oubre Jr. is playing well and that the Sixers have V.J. Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes in their supporting cast. Maxey and Co. have Philly seventh in the East, three games back from New York at No. 2.
The belief in Maxey and his rise this season doesn't mean that the Sixers have given up on Embiid, but with his injury concerns mounting, Philly can't rely on him. It's only natural to shift things toward Maxey, who is more than capable of being the No. 1 option.
Of course, it'd help to have Embiid, who has struggled in the handful of games he's played, but that might be too much to ask at this point in his career.
The Sixers are all-in on Tyrese Maxey, not because they have no other choice, but because he's delivering.