If the Philadelphia 76ers want to have a more successful future, Joel Embiid needs to finally give way to Tyrese Maxey. It needs to be Maxey’s team. Embiid needs to allow Maxey (and now, VJ Edgecombe) to play the fast-paced style that suits him best. The style Philadelphia should have been playing with – regardless of personnel – for the past two years.
Maxey is one of the best players in the world. He’s nearly unstoppable. Yet when Embiid is healthy, things slow down. And Maxey just isn’t the best version of himself. For the 76ers to be at their best, Maxey needs to be at his best. And for that to happen, Embiid needs to give way as the face of the franchise.
It’s time for Maxey to take over. And it’s been long overdue.
Joel Embiid needs to give Tyrese Maxey the keys to the franchise
Maxey’s speed is his ultimate weapon. When he’s running the fast break, it’s nearly impossible to stop him. But the same goes for when he’s sprinting around in the halfcourt.
When the ball is in Maxey’s hands, he should go fast. It’s his best advantage over almost every team in the NBA. Nobody can stick with him when he gets downhill, and especially not when he’s going full speed.
But Embiid likes to play slow. He likes the ball in his spots. He likes the pace of the game to match what he can do best, which is often finding positioning in the post and working slowly from there.
That makes sense. Embiid is a massive body. He’s one of the best post players in recent memory, and like with Maxey’s speed, few players can match Embiid’s strength and skill in the post. It’s his ultimate weapon.
Unfortunately, Embiid can never stay healthy. And the constant Ping-Pong back and forth between Maxey ball and Embiid ball puts the Sixers in a weird spot at times.
Maxey is 25 years old. He’s about to enter the prime years of his career, and with Daryl Morey out the door, it seems like the Sixers as a whole are about to enter a new era, too.
That era should have Maxey at its forefront. Embiid had his chance. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get over the hump. But now, it’s time for him to allow Maxey to lead the charge.
Philadelphia – but most importantly, Embiid – needs to give Maxey the reins. It’s his time to sit in the driver’s seat and lead the Sixers organization into a new chapter.
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