The Philadelphia 76ers will definitely approach the 2024-25 season profiled as one of the most interesting bunches in the NBA. Already piloted by a league MVP in Joel Embiid with a young robin in Tyrese Maxey, who bagged the Most Improved Player award last season, beside him, the team managed to add a nine-time All-Star in Paul George, forcing them to excavate a third cavern for a much-desired Big Three.
With such a star-studded lineup, the 76ers coaching staff will have some interesting decisions in the upcoming campaign, especially from a game management standpoint. All three players can carry the offense in their own right, but the ball is incapable of cloning in the hardwood, which begs the question: who will be taking the last shot for the team next season?
Paul George makes big omission on divisive 76ers debacle
On the latest episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder queried George about which one between him and Embiid would take the last shot for the 76ers in rubber matches next season.
George, after some hesitation, passed on a direct answer and instead, responded that it would be Nick Nurse's call next season, admitting that he has already played with other superstars before and has learned to live with the results.
While definitely a light moment, George made no mention of Tyrese Maxey getting the final shot. It's not within his ambit at all, but some fans certainly think that the breakout star from last season deserves at least a nod from the All-Star.
Maxey does not have the extensive experience his two other co-stars tout, but he's just as adept, if not better, as a late-game performer. He was the sixth-best scorer in the clutch in the most recent playoffs and finished in the top 15 in clutch scoring during the regular season. Slowly, he's climbing up the ranks among elite point guards in the association
PG's omission of Maxey does not necessarily reflect on what he thinks about the young star, though. But tossing the matter between him and Embiid is already a mistake in itself.
Or maybe we can just give Holmgren the bigger piece of the blame pie, if you will.