The Philadelphia 76ers have built a startling lineup with two regular season MVPs, two Finals MVPs, four All-NBA honorees, and a 2025-26 All-Rookie First Team selectee. It's both a burden and a blessing for head coach Nick Nurse, who will have a surplus of top talent and a tall task as far as managing egos and touches is concerned.
Thankfully for Nurse, 2025-26 All-NBA honoree Tyrese Maxey is embracing a leadership role by putting the onus on the players to put their egos to the side.
Maxey, 25, is the second-youngest player in the 76ers' vaunted starting lineup that also features Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James. Only V.J. Edgecombe, who was a rookie this past season, is younger. Even still, Maxey isn't mincing words when discussing what Philadelphia's stars need to do in order to permit team success.
During an interview with Sam Yip of HoopsHype, Maxey made it clear that he knows the 76ers are only going to realize their potential if they sacrifice their egos.
"I think the biggest thing is we can't have anybody, nobody on this team can have an ego. We have two guys that have won regular-season MVPs, two guys that have won Finals MVPs, multiple gold medal winners on this team, multiple 25-plus points per game, All-Stars, All-NBA. We're all pretty accomplished. So the ego has to drop and you have to do it collectively."
It's a team flush with veterans and future Hall of Famers, but Maxey's emergence as a leader may very well be the key to building and sustaining greatness in Philadelphia.
Tyrese Maxey on 76ers: "Nobody on this team can have an ego"
For as star-studded as the 76ers' roster may be, Maxey is perhaps the most important player on it. For one, he's a proven commodity within Philadelphia's structure having taken on the starring role for the team over the past three seasons—during which time Embiid has played a combined 96 games.
Beyond what Maxey has done, however, is what he may ultimately do for a team that's trusting a 32-year-old Embiid to overcome an extensive injury history and a 41-year-old James to fight Father Time.
Thankfully, Maxey seems to understand that competing for a championship is about more than just assembling talent. Philadelphia has the on-paper ability to compete with anyone, but the downside of having this many superstars on one roster is that there are only so many shots and touches to go around—meaning they won't be able to play as much with the ball in their respective hands.
Instead, sacrifices will need to be made as MVPs, All-NBA honorees, and Finals MVPs spend less time on the ball than they're accustomed to, and a promising up-and-comer alters their development plan.
The good news is that Maxey, the arguable face of the franchise over the past three seasons, is ready and willing to hold his teammates accountable. He isn't just happy to have future Hall of Famers at his side, but is publicly urging them to do what's necessary to win.
The 76ers will certainly have a better shot at winning than most based on talent alone, but actually contending will require egos to be set aside and a leader to emerge. Maxey is taking those burdens upon himself.
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