If you're not overreacting to a two-game sample size, are you even an NBA fan? Tyrese Maxey's performances have been extraordinary. On a star-studded roster, the electric guard isn't just the Philadelphia 76ers' leader, but he is also their offensive talisman. Maxey's elite numbers will put him into MVP discussions; however, the team's potential to stay at the summit of the Eastern Conference makes him the favorite for the prestigious award.
Statistics are just the start of the MVP conversation
Tyrese Maxey has already proven throughout his young career that a year-by-year statistical improvement is inevitable. Last year, the 25-year-old averaged a career-high 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Maxey will always make a positive impact for his team, but this season's question was whether Nick Nurse would trust him with a big offensive role alongside LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
If the victories over the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are anything to go by, Maxey will not only contribute heavily, but he will be the leading force in the Sixers' offense. Already this season, he has recorded 30 points and 21 shot attempts per game -- 4 more than Jaylen Brown (17) and 5.5 more than Joel Embiid (15.5).
Maintaining this level of scoring will be difficult for the Kentucky alum, but not impossible. His reduced playmaking responsibilities compared to last year will allow him to focus on racking up points. Nevertheless, registering the highest numbers doesn't always guarantee a star will be awarded the MVP trophy; they must lead their team to success. Maxey has never had a greater opportunity to do this.
Philadelphia's star-studded roster will help Maxey in his MVP quest
Winning a championship or leading a team deep into the playoffs is often the major contributor to being crowned MVP -- despite it being perceived as a regular-season award. With that being the case, being a part of a roster with names like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown certainly won't harm Maxey's chances at the prestigious accolade.
The 76ers have raced to a 2-0 record after defeating two teams that will be in championship contention come the end of the season. While Philadelphia is far from the finished product, the roster's potential is undeniable. Reaching the NBA Finals would be an achievement, but the Sixers won't define that as success.
It's usually very simple: the best player from the best team is the league's MVP. Of course, there are always particular cases where this hasn't happened. Case in point: Joel Embiid's sensational 2022-2023 campaign saw him crowned as the NBA's best player. The 76ers finished third overall in the Eastern Conference and crashed out of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics.
Nevertheless, this squad is far more capable of winning a championship than one led by a perennial playoff choke artist like James Harden. Tyrese Maxey has provided a small sample size of the leader he can be. It's hard to believe he will ever have a better opportunity to be named the NBA's MVP.
Add us as a preferred source on Google