Philadelphia 76ers fans are often accused of hometown bias, but their belief in Tyrese Maxey carries real weight–even LeBron James agrees.
James said on his podcast, “Mind the Game,” on Tuesday that he believes Maxey is one of the best point guards, not only in the Eastern Conference, but in the entire NBA. The future hall-of-famer’s opinion is proof of Maxey’s sizable leap he’s made this season and a representation of the relationship they’ve built throughout the years.
“He’s one of the best point guards, not only in the East but in the NBA.”
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 6, 2026
— LeBron James on Tyrese Maxey
(via @mindthegamepod, h/t @NBA__Courtside)pic.twitter.com/Ore8azHGEF
James’ praise came after Philadelphia’s 125-124 defeat against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, during which Maxey struggled in crucial moments, but it’s still warranted. The guard is averaging 31 points–the third-best mark in the league–seven assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists through 32 games this year. He has undoubtedly been the 76ers’ best player and is positioned to earn his second all-star appearance.
Maxey’s offensive efforts kept Philadelphia afloat early in the season as Joel Embiid and Paul George worked their way back from their respective knee injuries. Look no further than his career-high 54 points in the 76ers’ 123-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on November 20th. All of his improvements were on full display, from his tightened shot creation and decision-making to his feisty perimeter defense.
When Embiid and George returned, Maxey endured an adjustment period, but came out all the better. The NBA named him Eastern Conference Player of the Week for December 29th to January 4th, a span where Philadelphia went 3-0 with its trio and Maxey averaged 34.7 points and 8.7 assists.
With all-star voting heating up, fans have begun arguing where players stack up amongst each other this season, making James’ Maxey sentiments more valuable. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic both remain ahead of Maxey in rankings from a production standpoint. But, a debate could be had surrounding Maxey against Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham solely this season.
Even if one believes those players are better than the soon-to-be two-time all-star, he remains a borderline top-five point guard in the NBA. That doesn’t make James’ claim any less telling of Maxey’s ascension or their evergrowing relationship, nonetheless.
The 41-year-old spoke highly of Maxey throughout the years, with their connection seemingly originating through their shared agency, Klutch Sports. James revealed on Mind the Game that he and the guard have worked out together at 5 a.m. over the last few summers. Maxey’s yearly progression stemmed from his relentless work ethic, which James–arguably the greatest player of all time–saw firsthand.