Little is certain in the bizarre world of basketball. However, Tyrese Maxey being a candidate for All-NBA this year is nigh on inevitable. The electric guard has devastated his opposition with an abundance of offensive masterclasses. As the Philadelphia 76ers’ 21st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Maxey would join a select group of late selections who were overlooked, underestimated, and ultimately forced to claw their way to superstardom
In this day and age, everybody and their grandmother is a draft expert. Whether they have been created as rage bait or a genuine attempt at predicting where players will be selected, mock drafts are more common than the Sixers ducking the luxury tax. Nevertheless, the concept of the process is similar; higher picks are destined to make waves in the NBA, and players who are not a franchise's priority will be sentenced to a career as a rotational piece.
Tyrese Maxey has proven to break this mould, and is teetering on the brink of joining an elite set of players that followed a similar journey.
Marvellous Maxey is on the verge of joining an elite underdog group
When a star is averaging 29.1 points, 6.8 assists, and two steals per game, it begins to feel like a place on an All-NBA Team is a certainty. Tyrese Maxey's statistics are not the only component of his resume that suggests he should be named amongst the league's finest athletes; his enthralling performances capture the imagination of an entire fan base, providing hope when there is often very little.
One undeniable element behind the allure of Maxey is his relentless commitment to growth. His scrappy mentality, despite being selected 21st overall in 2020, has allowed him to develop all of his attributes over his short career. An All-NBA selection would be more than fitting for a player with this work ethic, and he would not be the only underdog to be awarded with this honour.
Former Philadelphia 76ers forward Jimmy Butler is another hustler who few believed could be a superstar coming out of college. After being selected 30th overall in 2010, Butler has wrestled his way into an All-NBA Team on five occasions. The 36-year-old has averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists throughout his career.
Butler's current teammate also comes from a crop of underappreciated gems. Like him or loathe him, Draymond Green has had a fantastic career at the highest level. A second-round pick (35th overall), Green has appeared on an All-NBA Team nine times. Additionally, the Golden State Warriors legend has won four NBA championships with the franchise.
Tyrese Maxey is a leading light in the City of Philadelphia under his current guise -- that has not always been the case. Being selected as a part of an All-NBA Team would be a fitting end to a sensational season. Not only would this be one of the proudest moments of his young career, but it would also place him among elite company.