CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have continued to see improvement from Tyrese Maxey at the point guard spot to begin the 2023-24 season. Amid all of the James Harden stuff, the Sixers made Maxey their point guard, and he has been terrific in the role.
Maxey had 22 points and a career-high 11 assists in Monday’s win over the Washington Wizards. Both numbers are terrific, but most impressively? He had zero turnovers. His ability to take care of the ball has been terrific.
“He’s just controlling his pace and controlling our offense, making the correct decisions out there, being efficient with it,” Tobias Harris said of Maxey. “His assists are one thing, but to be able to go out there and limit turnovers as well, it just goes to show how he’s really handling the team and running the show.”
The Sixers ran an efficient offense under Harden in the past, but Maxey has been terrific to begin the season. He’s averaging 25.5 points and 7.3 assists, and the Sixers have the best offensive rating in the league, 121.0.
“That’s what we expect of him,” Harris added of Maxey. “Obviously, it is early as everybody says, but at the same time, there’s a lot of positives and pros to take from that and to expand on.”
A big thing coach Nick Nurse wanted Maxey to improve on was being more of a vocal leader. He wants the young guard to have a voice and to direct the team. The Sixers have seen that growth.
“He’s growing into a vocal leader,” Harris added. “Those things take time. It takes confidence as well. He’s somebody that has a lot of confidence. You can just see that in the way that he plays and his shot-making ability, but everybody on the team trusts him to run the show. We trust him to have the rock in his hands to make the right decisions.”
Maxey has a maniacal work ethic. He continues to keep his head down, put his best foot forward, and work as hard as ever to get to the success that he so craves. That type of work will help him morph into a leader in Philadelphia.
“More times than anything, the leadership kinda starts with just coming in and doing the best you every day,” Harris finished. “He’s one of the first guys in the gym, last guy to leave, so everybody understands what he puts into the game and he’s not just talking the talk. He backs it up as well.”
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