The Philadelphia Sixers have three All-Stars in their starting lineup, with one getting less attention than the other two. The team's success next season will rely on Joel Embiid's health, and outside of that, the Sixers need Paul George to bounce back from last season (which hasn't gone as planned). Where does that leave Tyrese Maxey?
Philadelphia selected Maxey in the first round of the 2020 draft. He's improved season-to-season since then, averaging a career-high 26.3 points, 6.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game this past season. His efficiency dipped (43.7% from the field and 33.7% from three), but there is an explanation for that.
Maxey played a career-low 52 games, but he still outplayed the Sixers' other stars. Embiid played 19 games, and George 41 games.
The 24-year-old guard dealt with a few challenges, including a hamstring injury, during a forgettable season in Philly. His offensive workload expanded with Embiid and George missing significant time. Maxey took more shots, making his dip in efficiency understandable (that changed when Embiid and George played). Luck wasn't on his side, nor was it on his team's.
Last season was a learning experience for Tyrese Maxey
Philadelphia entered the 2024-25 season with high expectations built around its Big Three, but it resulted in Maxey shouldering most of the load in a losing season. The Sixers missed the playoffs for the first time in Maxey's NBA career, but that wasn't his fault.
He averaged a league-high 37.7 minutes per game as he was pushed into an even brighter spotlight, trying to boost his team's morale while dealing with the pressure of being the top offensive option. It was a stark difference from the previous season, when he was named an All-Star for the first time, reaping the benefits of playing alongside Embiid.
Unfortunately, for Maxey, there is no guarantee that next season will be different. George had surgery a couple of weeks ago, and his status for the start of the season is in jeopardy. Embiid might not be ready by then, either. If he does play, fans are concerned about how it will impact his knee.
The pressure isn't off of Maxey. It's not ideal, not for a team that has championship aspirations, but has most of its money tied up in two injury-prone stars.
The silver lining is that Maxey grew as a leader last season. He also has a better idea of what to expect, but ultimately, he's only one player. There is only so much he can control.