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To truly survive in today’s NBA, a player has to be versatile. He needs to be able to shoot it from the outside, play a little defense, be able to attack the basket, and play multiple positions. It’s the name of the game nowadays.
For new Philadelphia 76ers rookie Tyrese Maxey, he learned that lesson early.
After playing on the ball a lot in high school, he was forced to play a lot off the ball at the University of Kentucky and that prepared him for what’s to come at the NBA level.
“I think it helped me a lot,” he explained. “I really appreciate the circumstance that I was in at University of Kentucky because now I feel like I fit into the new age NBA with guys like Jamal Murray, C.J. McCollum, even Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, different guys like that who have to play on and off the ball.”
Maxey can do a lot of good things at the NBA level. He has the physical tools to attack the cup like a shooting guard and he can also handle the ball at the point guard spot and be able to run things when Ben Simmons needs a break.
It is that versatility that will earn him playing time under coach Doc Rivers and allow himself to earn the trust of his teammates. He just needs to go out there and prove it at this point.
“Now, it’s just another asset to my game to where I can play on the ball if I have to do and when guys like Joel and Ben are in the game,” he continued. “I can play off the ball and be able to find ways to help the team like that.”
When training camp begins on December 1, he will be able to get his first taste of being out there with his new teammates and being able to see what he can do at the next level. [lawrence-related id=39381,39378,39372]