Tag: Tyrese Maxey

Sixers star Tyrese Maxey wins 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey wins the 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award.

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey is one of the more maniacal competitors in the league. He brings 110% effort on a nightly basis and no matter what happens during the game or any adversity he faces, Maxey always has a smile on his face.

Taking on a larger load amid the James Harden saga, Maxey averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds on his way to being named an All-Star for the first time in his career. He was fantastic all season.

The work ethic he brought to the table and the respect he has for the game and his peers resulted in him being named the 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award recipient. He is the second Sixer to win the award, joining Eric Snow in the 1999-00 season.

Maxey looks to build off his All-Star campaign in the 2024-25 season and help Philadelphia take the next step in the Eastern Conference during coach Nick Nurse’s second season.

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Sixers star Tyrese Maxey in attendance of Thunder Game 4 win over Mavs

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was in attendance of the Oklahoma City Thunder defeating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 on the road.

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey just loves the game of basketball. It’s obvious in the steps that he has taken as a star in this league and his ability to just take games over in the blink of an eye.

Another guard who has the ability to take games over is Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He did so on Monday to help the Thunder erase a 14-point deficit in the second half to rally and beat the Dallas Mavericks, 100-96, to even the series at 2 shifting back to OKC.

Maxey, a Dallas native, was in attendance. The Sixers All-Star was sitting courtside and helped Gilgeous-Alexander up on one play when the star guard fell baseline.

With the Sixers eliminated in the first round, Maxey gets to take in other NBA action. Of course, he would much rather be playing than watching right now, but after a terrific season, he has earned a well-deserved rest.

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Lakers’ LeBron James has strong praise for Sixers All-Star Tyrese Maxey

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has strong praise for Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey.

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey had a helluva season taking over as the starting point guard amid the James Harden saga. He averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 45% and 37.3% from deep in his fourth season.

For his play, Maxey has earned the respect around the league. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has given his respect to the young star as he stated on his podcast with JJ Redick:

The (expletive) don’t get tired. He don’t get tired! I watched that game last night, I think he played 50 minutes I think. You know, hurt his elbow at one point, turned his ankle at one point. Hit the ground numerous times, try to go in a lane, and dunk on two guys. Get it blocked, get back up. You can’t get a hold of him cause he don’t get tired.

Maxey upped his play in the playoffs against the New York Knicks when he averaged 29.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. He shot 47.8% from the floor and 40% from deep while having to play 44.5 minutes per game. He saved Philadelphia from elimination in Game 5 when he scored a career playoff-high 46 points on the road.

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Julius Erving applauds Sixers for effort in tough Round 1 loss to Knicks

Franchise icon Julius Erving applauded the Philadelphia 76ers for their effort in a Round 1 loss to the New York Knicks.

On the one hand, the Philadelphia 76ers took a step back in the 2023-24 season. After three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Sixers were ousted in the first round by the New York Knicks in six games.

It was a tough series as both teams exchanged body blows. The final scoring margin between the teams after six games was one point in favor of New York. The Sixers were right there in all six games, but the Knicks came up with the clutch hustle plays down the stretch of games.

However, Philadelphia deserves credit. Joel Embiid battled through a meniscus injury as well as Bell’s Palsy to lead his team, and young Tyrese Maxey blossomed into the star everybody always believed he could be.

The effort the Sixers showed made franchise legend Julius Erving proud. He applauded the effort on X, formerly known as Twitter.

While the Sixers head into a very important offseason, the Knicks are up 2-0 on the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.

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Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey will be included in decision making for Sixers

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey will be involved in the offseason decision-making for the Philadelphia 76ers.

CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the offseason, one has to wonder what comes next for them after a first-round elimination at the hands of the New York Knicks. The Sixers gave a valiant effort considering the adversity they were facing, but it wasn’t meant to be.

President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has substantial cap space and numerous other assets at his disposal to help the Sixers take the next step. He also has stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey who appear as dominant as any combination in the league.

As Morey heads into the offseason seeking help for his star duo, he will certainly consult them to help move the Sixers forward.

“Yeah all as equal, you definitely want Tyrese and Joel to feel good and comfortable about the players you’re adding,” said Morey. “They’re so good they can make any player work well or not work well. So I’ve always had a history of working with our top players and obviously the coaching staff to make sure everyone feels about those acquisitions.”

While Embiid and Maxey will be included in these decisions, it isn’t likely everybody will be on the same page. Morey understands that and it will come down to how that player can help the Sixers in the future.

“There are some times where, basically either the head coach or the front office or one of your better players— it’s never unanimous,” Morey explained. “There are times when it’s like ‘OK, two of those three feel good about how a player can help.’ Often, you still often do it, and then over time, they either prove that it’s better than you think or worse than you think.”

The point is, it appears the Sixers are on the same page in terms of having their main pieces in the decision-making process. Obviously, it comes down to Morey and what he believes will help the team, but Embiid, Maxey, and coach Nick Nurse will have a say in any moves as well.

“There have been times when I’ve thought someone wouldn’t work as well and they worked better, there have been times when Joel felt like, ‘OK, I’m not sure about this’, but then got very excited about that player,” Morey finished. “So you just got to have a lot of faith. The good thing is there’s a lot of trust between all the key components where you can take bets on players and feel generally good about how everyone’s viewing it.”

The summer promises to be a very interesting time for the Sixers.

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Daryl Morey assesses leaps Sixers star Tyrese Maxey took in 4th season

Daryl Morey assesses the leaps Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was able to make in his fourth season in the league.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The 2023-24 season was a frustrating one for the Philadelphia 76ers. They entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and were ousted by the New York Knicks in the first round.

The injury to Joel Embiid caused him to miss 43 games, and the Sixers tumbled in the standings.

In contrast, Philadelphia saw the meteoric rise of Tyrese Maxey. In 70 games, he averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 45% from the floor and 37.3% from deep while being named an All-Star. He averaged 29.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds in the playoffs.

Maxey exceeded everybody’s expectations, and those months without Embiid helped him grow.

“I think he probably exceeded mine in that the step he took this year was extremely hard, and for sure not a given that he would have done it,” President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said. “We should all learn not to bet against Tyrese given that he’s beat expectations every single season both prior to coming here. Then, you become the priority guy on the scouting report, that’s a huge adjustment.”

When Embiid was out, teams focused on Maxey. The goal was to slow him and force the other Sixers to step up. Maxey overcame those challenges and gave Philadelphia guidance without the big fella.

“Blitzes, you’re the first guy on the film, and sometimes the only guy on the film especially when Joel was out,” Morey continued on Maxey. “How to stop this that he does. How to stop that? How to guard the step back. How to guard the speed.”

There were some games in the beginning when Maxey struggled a bit, but he continued to get better and better and that’s where Morey has been impressed with what he has brought to the table.

“He even had a couple games, especially early when Joel was out, I thought it was quite challenging for him,” finished Morey. “To his credit, working with our coaching staff, and watching a ton of video, and then just getting used to how people are gonna guard him, he really took that step forward. Tyrese gets all the credit. That was not a given that he can do all that and it’s very exciting that he did.”

The Sixers can grow with Embiid and Maxey as Philadelphia looks to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference.

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Kyle Lowry assesses time with Sixers, praises Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey

Veteran Kyle Lowry assesses his time with the Philadelphia 76ers while also praising Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

PHILADELPHIA — Eighteen-year veteran Kyle Lowry made his way back to Philadelphia to play for his hometown 76ers in the 2023-24 season. He began the year with the Miami Heat before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets. After the deal, he was waived, clearing the way for him to sign with the Sixers.

In 23 games with the Sixers, including 20 starts, he averaged 8 points and 4.6 assists while shooting 40.4% from deep. He also did a number of things not shown in the box score.

After the first-round playoff elimination to the New York Knicks, Lowry assessed his short time with the Sixers. He singled out a few players he saw grow during the second half of the season.

“We got better,” Lowry said. “I think the guys in this locker room, they competed at a high level. The things Joel (Embiid) showed us in this series playing on one leg. Tyrese’s (Maxey) growth. Kelly’s (Oubre Jr.) toughness, I think the team just showed the competitive nature. It was fun. After 18 years, you’d think it gets easier, but it just sucks even more when you lose. Especially, with a great group of guys like this. It was fun to be a part of.”

The growth of both Embiid and Maxey is why Lowry wanted to come to Philadelphia. It was prideful for him to see the young stars continue to grow. Even though the Sixers came up short to the Knicks, both Embiid and Maxey showed a lot of growth on their respective paths to stardom.

“It was part of the reason I came here to be able to be a part of the growth of Tyrese and the growth of Joel and watching them and try to help them as much as I can with the maturation process,” Lowry added. “The things that these guys have done. Joel playing on one leg. Tyrese — in the minute of the game going crazy a couple minutes and going through ups and downs and finding ways to be successful. As a guy who’s been in the league a long time, I was so happy I got the opportunity to play with these guys and be around them.”

As far as Lowry’s future, there is a thought he would be perfect fit alongside Embiid and Maxey. However, he is a free agent and one wonders where he will go in the process.

“We just lost so I’m not even thinking about anything, but figuring out how to get some sleep tonight because I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep with the way we lost the game,” Lowry added. “I had a great opportunity to be a part of two superstars in this league and for me, it was a joy to be around them. We’ll see what happens in the next couple months.”

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Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey lays out offseason goals after All-Star season

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey is looking to continue to improve in the offseason following an All-Star season.

PHILADELPHIA — The 2023-24 season was a resounding success for Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey. The young guard in his fourth season was named an All-Star and averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 37.3% from deep.

Maxey took over the reins as the point guard for this group amid the James Harden saga, and the Sixers look for him to continue to develop.

In the two months the Sixers had to play without Joel Embiid, every opposing team threw a different defensive scheme at Maxey. He had to face junk defenses such as zones, box-and-1s, being trapped at halfcourt and other defenses. That helped him grow, and he will use the offseason to continue to improve in areas to attack those defensive schemes.

“Yeah, it’s a lot of things I need to work on,” Maxey said. “I feel like with reps is one of the biggest things for me this season. I got a lot of reps and a lot of different things. Especially, when Joel went out, I saw a lot of different coverages, a lot of different game plans, a lot of different schemes, and it really made me a better player.”

Maxey is a guy with a maniacal work ethic. He is one of those players who will look at the ups and downs of the 2023-24 season and learn from every single experience. Even in the playoffs there are some moments he can learn from and be a better player.

“Not even just a better player, but a better person, better basketball mind,” Maxey continued. “I was getting double-teamed. So, I think that was really good for me as far as being able to play through that and knowing when to be aggressive and get my teammates involved. I think it really elevated playoffs too. I didn’t play particularly well tonight, but I was pretty prepared for everything the defense threw at me for the most part.”

This will be an important offseason for Maxey and the Sixers. They will have to make the necessary improvements to move forward in the Eastern Conference.

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Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey discuss next steps after Sixers elimination

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey discuss the next steps after the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated by the New York Knicks.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers are once again dealing with an early elimination following a 118-115 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Thursday. The Sixers were unable to come up with the big plays down the stretch, and the Knicks finished the series.

This was a lost season for the Sixers. They endured a great deal of adversity, headlined by Joel Embiid missing 43 games, largely due to a left knee meniscus injury. The injury derailed what had been a brilliant start to the season.

In Embiid’s absence, Tyrese Maxey grew into a legitimate star in the league. The ball was in Maxey’s hands constantly, and the 23-year-old became an All-Star.

So, the question becomes what’s next?

“If I remember correctly, in training camp, early this year, that’s the first thing I mentioned,” Embiid recalled. “Every single year it’s always been one person comes in and the following year they’re gone. The same thing just kept happening — kept happening the last few years. This is really the first time where you got him, and obviously, he’s taken a step, and he was amazing this year. One of the 10 best players in the world this year, and now you finally get the chance to build around it.”

Build. That is going to be the keyword throughout the offseason. The Sixers have Embiid and Maxey as the fulcrum for what this team wants to do. The two were nearly unstoppable as a tandem when the big fella was healthy.

“You got this guy, as young as he is, and you have people like myself and some of the other guys we have in the locker room, and you have a lot of cap space to make it happen,” Embiid added. “So I think one of the big things when it comes to winning is, I mean you look at all the teams that have won, you can’t just put people together for one year and hope that it is going to work out.”

Embiid has been hoping for continuity — somebody he can turn to and build with — for a while. He has it in Maxey.

“Obviously, we have some experience together, and so I think that’s the way to go,” Embiid added. “You just have to keep going, keep building around it, and find the right mix of people to make it happen, but yeah, I’m excited.”

Being able to develop alongside a guy such as Embiid has been key for Maxey, who is four years into his career.

“It’s been amazing,” Maxey said. “I’ve seen him do some extraordinary things honestly and for me, it’s just motivation because I see him keep working every single summer. I see him come back and he finds a way to get better at something. It’s funny, I used to mess with him last year about how he couldn’t shoot right-handed in pull-ups and he said I’m going to be able to do it and I just mess with him in the locker room. I’ve never seen in my four years actually back someone down and do jump hooks, he was doing that tonight (Game 6).”

Embiid has continued to challenge Maxey to get better every day. Every step of the way, the big fella has been in his ear.

“Just as a partnership, as a friend, as a brother, I appreciate him because he was one of the first believers in me from day one,” Maxey added. “I talk about the Denver game, the COVID game, I just remember him walking out because he wasn’t playing and I was. He said ‘Can you get 40? Because I think you can. Go out there and score 40.’ Myself at the time, I’m like ‘I’ve played eight games in the NBA, I don’t think I’ll make 40’, but for him to believe in me to do something like that, it was special and I appreciate him.”

Now, the goal has to be to build off this. The Sixers have a chance to build around the duo, and Philadelphia has to take advantage of it.

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NBA’s L2M says Tyrese Maxey should’ve been called for a travel late

The NBA’s Last 2 Minute report states that Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey should have been called for a travel late in Game 5.

The Philadelphia 76ers walked away with a 112-106 overtime win over the New York Knicks in Game 5 on the road on Tuesday. The win avoided elimination for the Sixers, and they have a Game 6 back home on Thursday.

Tyrese Maxey was the hero on Tuesday. He converted a 4-point play and then drilled a logo 3 to force overtime after Philadelphia trailed by six with 28.2 seconds left. It was one of the best performances in the playoffs in Sixers history.

However, the NBA’s Last 2 Minute report stated Maxey should have been called for a travel on the 4-point play.

Of course, the officials messed up plenty of calls late in New York’s Game 2 win. Officiating mistakes happen. The Knicks still should have eliminated the Sixers on Tuesday. Maxey just threw Philadelphia on his back to save the season.

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