Tyrese Maxey is already playing at an MVP level this season. The electric guard has been trusted to lead the Philadelphia 76ers' offense into battle, and it's a decision that's paying dividends for Nick Nurse. However, for a second consecutive season, the Sixers' head coach is reluctant to give Maxey a break. His time on the court will be unsustainable for another year. If something doesn't change soon, Maxey's performances will suffer or, worse, injury will strike.
When things are going this well for the 76ers, it's hard to argue with their head coach's tactical decisions. The team has raced to a 7-1 record while dispelling any myth of teething issues. Each player has executed their role to perfection, but it is Maxey who has been the star of the show.
Throughout the 2026-27 season, Maxey has averaged an incredible 29.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 50.3 percent from the floor. The 25-year-old has thrived in the leadership role Nurse has bestowed upon him. Naturally, a franchise's best player logs the most minutes, and in Maxey's case, this is the second-highest average (37.4 per game) in the entire league.
The Sixers have the firepower to rotate during the regular season
Nobody has ever been awarded the Larry O'Brien trophy in November. Yes, Philadelphia is sitting comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference, but there is still a long way to go in the NBA's schedule. The 76ers' main objective is simple: win a championship. Nurse needs his players to be fighting fit come the end of the season. By overextending their minutes at this stage of the year, the Sixers' head coach is risking their condition for the playoffs.
Only Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets has recorded a higher minutes-per-game average this year. Murray's situation is vastly different from Maxey's and much more understandable. Denver's guard rotation includes Christian Braun, Tyus Jones, and DeMar DeRozan. While these are all good players in their own right, they are not options you trust to carry the team when Murray sits on the bench.
By comparison, Maxey is rubbing shoulders with options like Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons, and even LeBron James. Any NBA organization would be desperate to have these players as their starting point guard. Philadelphia possesses such versatility that the starting lineup can cover multiple positions, with the option of utilizing Dean Wade, Jabari Walker, and Adem Bona in the frontcourt.
The 76ers might be struggling for center depth, but their rotation across other positions is more than okay. It's hard to remember a time when Philadelphia had such a wealth of talent sitting on the bench; in fact, they arguably never have. However, depth is irrelevant if the 76ers' head coach is refusing to use it.
Maxey might be having the season of his life, but Philadelphia is just eight games into their schedule. The minutes he has already racked up are beyond belief, and given Lady Luck's cruel fate in recent times, the 76ers are playing a dangerous game. Nick Nurse must trust his rotation and allow Maxey to recuperate.
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