The 2020 NBA rookie class had a tough time entering its first season in the league. Once players were drafted in November, they were thrown into training camp a week later and the preseason shortly thereafter.
Normally, there is a summer league after the draft that allows the rookies to get ready for the rigors of the NBA. However, the COVID-19 pandemic robbed the 2020 class of that opportunity.
The 2021 draft received the blessing of summer league to prepare for this season, but it also helps the second-year players as well. For example, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is able to have a summer league this time around, and he is thankful for the chance.
“That’s the crazy part about it,” Maxey stated after Monday’s win. “I was just telling somebody else like you didn’t have any summer league, I only was at training camp for like two days, and then I was thrown in the fire Game 1, and I was just telling somebody in the NBA level everybody’s good, everybody’s prepared.”
Maxey still had a solid rookie season averaging 8.0 points and 2.0 assists while making a big impact in the playoffs as well. However, his defensive play at the beginning of the season left much to be desired. He made steady improvements throughout the season and he has that experience behind him along with summer league to prepare for his second season.
“I was guarding Ish Smith my first game,” Maxey recalls. “He comes in off the bench runs right past me and makes a layup. Doc is screaming and all the coaches yelling, I’m like, bro, he just came right at me, but it’s a cool experience to be back here at summer league and get this experience.”
Maxey figures to be a big part of Philadelphia’s plans for the 2021-22 season and this experience in Vegas is going to help him even more.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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