Tyrese Maxey is one of the most exciting up and coming superstars in the entire NBA. His electrifying pace, exhaustive work rate, and contagious personality has swiftly captured the hearts of the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase.
After winning the Most Improved Player accolade at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, Maxey was projected to excel during the 2024-25 season -- especially in the absence of franchise star Joel Embiid. However, the pressure of being the offensive talisman for the Sixers manufactured inconsistencies in the 24-year-old's performances.
Nevertheless, the energetic guard registered a career-high in points per game (26.3) to showcase that he possesses the attributes to become one of the deadliest players in the league.
Yet, Maxey displayed one offensive frailty that could hinder Philadelphia's championship ambitions if it is not addressed quickly.
Tyrese Maxey's three-point shooting percentage must improve next season for the 76ers
It cannot be debated that the Kentucky graduate is close to unstoppable when going coast-to-coast and driving to the hoop with intent -- although he seemingly has one of the poorest whistles in the entire NBA.
Despite this, as the primary scoring option for the 76ers, Maxey began settling for long-range attempts at a higher volume after working closely in the offseason with skills coach Drew Hanlen to adjust his shooting form.
The success rate did not favour the 'City of Brotherly Love'; after registering a career-high 9.2 3-point shots per game, Maxey only managed to score on 33.7% of these attempts -- largely contributing to Philadelphia's record as the fourth-worst 3-point shooting team (34.1%) in the league throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
This woeful statistic cannot solely lie at the feet of Tyrese Maxey, as the young superstar fell victim to questionable rotations, injuries, and unexpectedly having to carry the burden of being the face of a franchise that was anticipated to claim a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals at the start of the year.
With an unnerving silence surrounding the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George in rehab after left-knee surgery, Maxey may be thrust into another prominent role in the Sixers' offense once again. His efficiency from deep must be rectified before the franchise implodes for a second consecutive season.