The Philadelphia 76ers won the vaunted bidding war for LeBron James, and now, they are widely reckoned as one of the strongest contenders for the title next season. The megastar's monumental decision was certainly a divisive one, but for some, it was always inevitable, at least for one former NBA star in Rajon Rondo, who cast the spotlight on Tyrese Maxey as the decisive edge as to why The King chose Philly.
Rondo recently dished out his thoughts about the new-look 76ers in a recent episode of the Road Trippin' Show, and he shared what he thought proved to be the swing reason why Philadelphia ended up being LeBron's newest and final landing spot. According to the former veteran guard, Maxey's ability to play without the ball made a world of difference as the 76ers beat out other rivals to land James.
Rajon Rondo says Tyrese Maxey was the difference-maker for the 76ers in the LeBron James sweepstakes
Rondo expounded why Maxey's off-ball utility played a huge part in LeBron choosing the 76ers by drawing comparisons with the dynamic of the other teams. He said that the Warriors were too old as currently constructed, while the Heat lacked floor spacing around James. Meanwhile, he was not a fan of the hypothetical fit between LeBron, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden with the Cavaliers.
True enough, Maxey –– who led the 76ers in scoring this past season –– is unique in that he will actually benefit from having fewer responsibilities by having fewer possessions with the ball in his hands. His skill set as a three-level scorer and high-volume shooter can be further optimized if he spends more time hunting for open spaces and getting himself open. The same simply cannot be said for the big names on other teams.
James will most likely be deployed as the nominal point guard in the starting unit, which means that Maxey will spend more time as a designated shooting guard compared to years past. His efficiency should take a step forward next season, akin to what Kyrie Irving experienced before, when LeBron teamed up with him in Cleveland.
The 76ers have an abundance of talent so it is necessary for them to have a player who can put them in the right spots. LeBron James fits that description to a tee, and Tyrese Maxey will be one of the immediate beneficiaries of having the megastar in the fold.
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