With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining the Philadelphia 76ers, Tyrese Maxey's playmaking duties just might have to take a backseat.
Since LeBron James carries a high IQ and is one of the top passers of his time, the Sixers are surely going to take advantage of the point-forward's presence. However, Maxey definitely sounds like somebody who will challenge the idea of having LeBron--or anybody else--take away playmaking duties on the team.
Don't overlook Maxey's point guard value
In a recent sit-down with Hoops Hype, Maxey dished some thoughts on where he feels like he'll be able to improve in 2026-2027. Playmaking is the area that the veteran guard highlighted.
"I think the biggest thing that I hope to improve on is just staying consistent, staying in the flow of the game," Maxey said. "And then my playmaking as well, creating for others. I've been trying to do that more and more as the seasons have gone by, but now I can do that at an even higher level, I feel like. And then driving to the paint, these guys all pose a threat, they all cause tension just like me, so it should be very fun."
Maxey entered the NBA billed as a shooting guard out of the University of Kentucky. In year two, he spent a large chunk of the season playing point guard in the absence of the disgruntled Ben Simmons. When James Harden arrived, Maxey went back to his natural position off the ball.
Eventually, Harden took the Simmons route and held out for a trade. That time around, there was no top-tier passer returning for the Sixers' front-court. The keys to the offense were in Maxey's hands, and it's really been that way since.
Plenty of NBA fans see the arrival of James as a possible conflict for Maxey, while plenty of Sixers fans have done their best to let casuals know that Maxey thrives off the ball. The former first-rounder is versatile and more than willing to adjust. However, he's also competitive and confident.
The Sixers can find the right balance
"Sacrifice" is becoming the word of the upcoming season for the 76ers. Not every star will be able to play a specific role whenever they want, so the Sixers have to find the right balance between every player's strengths. Maxey knows that the ball won't be in his hands as much, but he's also making it clear that he's still a threat as a playmaker.
The 76ers have a great problem on their hands, as long as the rest of the team commits to the correct mindset, and Nick Nurse knows how to properly balance the team's offensive attack.
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