When the Philadelphia 76ers selected Tyrese Maxey at No. 21 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, few knew what to expect. COVID-19 had thrown the world into a state of disarray, and the process of evaluating talent was directly impacted by the limitations placed upon in-person contact.
Four years later, Maxey is an award-winning guard who has already set his ascension in motion on the 76ers' list of all-time statistical leaders.
Maxey began his NBA career as most rookies do, producing as much as he could in the limited playing time made available to him. Optimism sprouted, however, from per 36 averages of 18.8 points, 4.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.2 three-point field goals made.
A second-year jump kicked the intrigue into overdrive, as Maxey went from 30.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc as a rookie to 17.5 points per game on 42.7 percent marksmanship from three.
Maxey has since emerged as one of the premier guards in the NBA, earning All-Star placement and the Most Improved Player award in 2023-24. His outside shot has been a driving force behind his success, with an average of 2.5 three-point field goals made on 40.4 shooting over the past three seasons.
It's also positioned Maxey to climb as high as No. 2 all-time on the franchise's list of leaders in three-point field goals made by the end of the 2024-25 season—and No. 1 as soon as 2025-26.
Tyrese Maxey can reach No. 2 in 76ers history in threes in 2024-25
Maxey is currently No. 6 in franchise history in career three-point field goals made at 535. He needs to make just 29 in 2024-25 to pass Andre Iguodala at 563, and will pass Tobias Harris and his mark of 575 if he makes 41 this coming season.
With just 41 three-point field goals made, Maxey would climb to No. 4 in franchise history—and his ascension won't stop there if history is indicative of future success.
Kyle Korver currently sits at No. 3 in franchise history with 661 three-point field goals made. That means Maxey can surpass Korver with 127 three-point field goals made in 2024-25—a figure he's exceeded in each of the past three seasons.
That includes Maxey's career-best mark of 212 three-point field goals made in 2023-24—a figure that, if replicated or exceeded, would help him climb one spot higher in 2024-25.
Robert Covington is currently No. 2 in 76ers history with 724 three-point field goals made. Maxey would need to make 190 three-point field goals to pass him in 2024-25, which is 22 fewer than he converted a season ago.
It's an admittedly tall task for Maxey to take on, but even a slight dip from the pace he set in 2023-24 would leave the door open for him to reach No. 2 in franchise history.
In the event that Maxey passes Covington, only one player would remain ahead of him: Allen Iverson at 885. Maxey is highly unlikely to knock down 351 three-point field goals and pass The Answer in 2024-25, but it's entirely realistic that he could become the franchise's all-time leader as soon as 2025-26.
It's a mere future projection at this stage of the process, but the fact that Maxey is even in the conversation after just four seasons is a testament to the gem of a draft pick that he's become.