Tyrese Maxey has clinched an All-NBA berth for the first time in his career -- an accolade that is a testament to his hard work, determination, and refusal to allow his development to stall. Without him, the Philadelphia 76ers would have struggled to clinch a playoff berth in the 2025-26 campaign. However, while it is an outstanding achievement to be named on the Third Team, it should serve as a reminder to the franchise that Maxey is not yet a leading name in the NBA.
Maxey has had a career year
When the 76ers selected Tyrese Maxey 21st overall in the 2020 draft, nobody could have predicted just how high his ceiling was as a devastating offensive talent. Each year, Maxey has not just improved his numbers, but his all-around attributes. Now, he is undoubtedly one of the most feared guards in the entire league and arguably, the 76ers' most attractive asset.
Playing second fiddle to Joel Embiid is no easy task for any player, and many have failed to do so. Nevertheless, Maxey has thrived in this position. Most importantly, when his star partner is not on the floor, he has stepped into the lead role and scored at a devastating rate, ensuring his team still has a chance of recording important victories.
This year, Maxey has had to regularly spearhead the 76ers' offense, which has allowed him to record career-highs across the board. The 25-year-old averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
According to voters, this level of production only warranted a place on the All-NBA Third Team. While this will be a proud occasion for Maxey, it highlights that he is not recognised at the same level as Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Luka Doncic.
Tyrese Maxey must make another leap to assume greatness
One thing Maxey has proved throughout his career is that he is never content with the levels of performance he is exhibiting, and it is fair to assume that the 2026-27 season will be no different. If the Kansas alum truly wishes to be placed among the legendary guards of the NBA, he must once again show significant signs of improvement.
While he has become a more comfortable ball facilitator, Maxey still has some ways to go before he is considered one of the NBA's leading playmakers. For Maxey to improve this specific area of his game, he needs help not only from the players around him but also from his head coach, Nick Nurse, to draw up plays that suit his playing style.
On the other hand, Maxey could take a different approach and focus solely on maximizing his scoring output. If the Philadelphia 76ers can acquire a playmaker capable of taking the ball out of his hands and allowing him to operate off the ball more frequently, the electric guard could emerge as the NBA's leading scorer -- making it impossible for voters to overlook him for a place on the All-NBA First Team.
For now, Tyrese Maxey should savor the achievement of earning his first All-NBA Third Team selection. However, he is unlikely to be satisfied until his name is mentioned alongside the league's true elite -- and despite his impressive progress, he has not quite reached that level yet.
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