Currently standing at four wins against only a single loss, one cay safely say that the Philadelphia 76ers are off to a great start to the 2025-26 season. Sure, the team has not had a particularly difficult slate of opponents thus far, but for a team still trying to cultivate that on-court chemistry after a season derailed by injuries, they are definitely doing well.
All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey is leading that charge for the squad. Averaging 35.2 points and 9.4 assists per outing on 46.2 percent shooting from the field, which includes a blistering 46.8 percent success rate from beyond the arc, he has undoubtedly been playing at an MVP level to kickstart his sixth year as a pro.
With Joel Embiid still limited thanks to the strict minutes restriction levied on him as part of the coaching and medical staffs’ joint effort to preserve his body by easing him back into action after approximately eight months of inaction, Maxey has assumed the top-dog post deliberately and out of necessity.
Having said that, the 76ers have already done this last season — and we all know how that turned out for the squad.
Tyrese Maxey playing as the main option is now working for the 76ers unlike last season
Last season, Maxey was thrust into being the primary option for the 76ers thanks to Embiid appearing in just 19 games all campaign long. While he was able to sustain his scoring numbers from a year ago when he won the Most Improved Player of the Year award and was named an All-Star, his efficiency took a hit. Put simply, he was nowhere near as effective as the nominal alpha guy.
However, the 76ers are operating with the same formula this season, but the difference is that Maxey has been playing a ton better. The difference? Well, off the top of my head, there are two — the expectancy factor and having a better supporting cast.
As to the first one, unlike last season, Maxey approached the year knowing fully well that he will need to embrace being the No. 1 guy. Embiid has been playing, but the 76ers do not want him having a huge load right away, so Maxey has been their guy from Day 1 leading them in the scoring department.
With respect to the second reason, Maxey has a more talented and well-fitting supporting crew to blend with this season. Rookie star VJ Edgecombe has helped him shrug off defenses that previously focused solely on him. The 76ers have also become a much better three-point shooting team, which obviously plays into what Maxey needs as a high-octane scorer.
At the rate where this is going, it will take a lot of not-so-great developments for Tyrese Maxey not to sustain his dominant form. Sure, the numbers will not always look sterling, but from an effectiveness and efficiency standpoint, this version of his will be here to stay.