After averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 assists and 43.4% from three in 60 regular season games last term, Philadelphia 76ers’ shooting guard Tyrese Maxey has been tipped by many insiders to crack into the All-Star conversation in 2023-24. Judging by what his teammates and new head coach have been saying as the new season draws closer, him taking another leap shouldn’t be a surprise.
Maxey continues to make developments with ease
As the James Harden-LA Clippers trade machine continues to whirl and opening tip for 2023-24 nears, it’s easy to dismiss Philadelphia’s postseason chances after an offseason where their two biggest Eastern Conference rivals strengthened.
Milwaukee surprised everyone with an all-in move to capture Damian Lillard – a piece on that will come shortly – while Boston responded days later by beating multiple ball clubs, acquiring Jrue Holiday from Portland in that previous trade.
Kelly Oubre Jr is a shrewd pickup as I wrote last month but besides him, veteran defensive guard Patrick Beverley and some clever contract tinkering – Paul Reed, Montrezl Harrell and Danny Green – it doesn’t exactly set the world alight (sorry, Mo Bamba) for a side who flamed out when it mattered most this past summer.
That’s why 76ers fans and neutrals in general will be heartened to hear some of the positive noises from training camp with regards to fourth-year guard Tyrese Maxey.
Turning 23 next month, the Dallas-born Kentucky alum has seen his role within the offense progressively grown over the last two seasons and that’s no coincidence based on his abilities both with and without the ball. It feels like just yesterday, I was writing about his summer league exertions and now look how he’s grown.
Most guards leaguewide not named Tyrese Haliburton would probably prefer to be known for their scoring prowess above all else, but Maxey’s playmaking abilities have been improved by experience playing alongside Harden in the backcourt.
So much so that, if the 10-time All-Star leaves and they receive players more suited to other positions in return – Marcus Morris for example – it shouldn’t be as big an issue.
The work hasn’t gone unnoticed
“Playmaking-wise, he’s already gotten way better. Obviously we got to wait until a game and see how other teams guard us, but I think he’s gonna make a huge improvement when it comes to that.
- The league’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid on Maxey
Meanwhile, that belief is one echoed by the aforementioned Green. Back healthy after tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee last May, the veteran shooting guard is back in Philadelphia this year and likes what he sees:
“Tremendous amount of growth. He jokes with me all the time because he says during his rookie year, I said he couldn’t shoot – that wasn’t the statement – it was a comparison to somebody else.
The scouting report back then was you could go under Tyrese, he’s so fast you don’t want him to get to the rim. Now, there’s no going; he jumped probably 10% from that year to now shooting beyond the arc.
Just controlling the tempo, running the offense, even defensively getting more active, rebounding and doing the little things. He’s the ultimate pro, even before he got here, but making tremendous strides and growing as a player.”
Nick Nurse, who has consistently watched Maxey put up numbers against his players in the past, is glad he’ll be on the right side of him this season and beyond.
“I’m always super impressed with his range, how well and the ease he’s shooting the ball from deep. It just comes off so effortlessly, and shoots it well.
I can’t quite put my finger on it, or haven’t seen it before, but there’s just some quirk there of shiftiness that he loses people on the perimeter and then is wide-open from three.”
Having lost a pair of games against Boston to start their four-game slate, Philly have two more pre-season contests (Brookyln Nets, Atlanta Hawks) before their season begins against Milwaukee next Friday (12:30am BST) and you guessed it, Nurse’s old employers Toronto two days later at the same time. Will Harden still be there?
Picture source: Getty Images, Nurse quotes hyperlinked here
Mo and Sports 