Anshari TaslimMILWAUKEE — On November 20, Tyrese Maxey delivered a career-defining performance, exploding for 54 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-114 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Emerging from the visitor’s locker room, game ball clutched in hand, Maxey shared a text message from Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, simply stating, "’Filthy bastard.’" The sentiment, though more candidly expressed by Edwards, was universally echoed by those witnessing Maxey’s ascent.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse lauded Maxey as "just really talented," while Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George, a fellow NBA All-Star, described his play as "special." Rookie of the Year candidate VJ Edgecombe went further, proclaiming Maxey the "best point guard in the NBA." Such endorsements underscore the undeniable fact that the fifth-year guard is currently playing the most exceptional basketball of his career, having undeniably reached a new echelon of NBA stardom.
Maxey’s statistical output this season has been staggering. He is currently averaging 32.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, showcasing remarkable efficiency with shooting splits of 47% from the field, 40.9% from three-point range, and 87.8% from the free-throw line. This offensive surge is sustained over an arduous 39.9 minutes per night, placing him first in the league in minutes played by a significant margin; the next closest player, VJ Edgecombe, trails at 37.4 minutes.
His statistical dominance extends across multiple categories: Maxey ranks second in the league in scoring, is tied for second in three-pointers made, and holds the seventh position in assists. Notably, he is one of only three players, alongside MVP frontrunners Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić, to be ranked within the top 10 in both scoring and assists, illustrating his dual threat as a prolific scorer and primary facilitator.
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While an MVP award may not be Maxey’s immediate destiny, his exceptional play has propelled him into the periphery of the conversation, with current odds placing him at +5000 (Caesars), the sixth-best in the league. This recognition is a testament to his ability to carry the 76ers through a challenging period marked by significant injury setbacks. Despite Joel Embiid being limited to six appearances and Paul George to three, alongside absences from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jared McCain, Philadelphia has maintained a competitive 9-8 record. This places them ninth in the Eastern Conference, firmly in contention for an automatic playoff berth, a feat made possible largely by Maxey’s elevated performance.
Ironically, Maxey attributes part of his current success to the previous season’s challenges. During the 2023-24 campaign, a finger sprain sidelined him for the final 22 games, contributing to the team’s disappointing 24-58 finish and their first missed playoffs since 2017. This extended break, however, provided Maxey with crucial time for complete physical recovery and an intensified focus on conditioning. He leveraged the downtime to become a "student of the game," meticulously studying film "every day" throughout the summer with his friend, Jordan Harris, a dedication that has evidently paid dividends.
Maxey was already a highly regarded talent prior to this season, earning Most Improved Player of the Year honors and an All-Star selection during the 2023-24 season. However, his current campaign marks an even more significant leap. He is tied for second in the league in 40-point games with three and tied for third in 30-point outings with nine. His 54-point, nine-assist performance against the Bucks placed him in exclusive 76ers company, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in franchise history to record at least 50 points and nine assists in a single game.
Coach Nurse emphasizes Maxey’s distinctive offensive arsenal: "He’s got a unique double threat which is the speed, which will get him past people, and then the really deep shooting range, so there’s a lot of space he’s playing in there." This strategy is reflected in his shot selection, with over 80% of Maxey’s attempts originating either within 10 feet of the basket or from beyond the three-point line.
Maxey’s shooting prowess, particularly from long range, has been exceptional. Among the top 10 players in three-point attempts per game, only Grayson Allen boasts a higher percentage than Maxey. Delving deeper into long-range efficiency, Maxey’s 39.4% clip from 25-29 feet—a significant distance beyond the NBA’s 23-foot, 9-inch arc—ranks second among the nine players who have attempted at least 100 shots from this zone. Furthermore, among the 76 players attempting at least four catch-and-shoot three-pointers per game, Maxey’s 51.6% success rate places him fourth.
Doc Rivers, who coached Maxey for three seasons in Philadelphia, recalled his early belief in the guard’s shooting ability. "I remember early his first year, I made a comment to some of our media in Philadelphia and they thought I was nuts as usual," Rivers stated. "I said ‘Tyrese Maxey is a great shooter.’ I think he was shooting 21% at the time, and I said ‘I’ve never seen a guy make that many shots in practice and it not go in in the game.’ Early on it wasn’t. But if you were around him every day, you just know it. You sense it."
Rivers’ prescience has been validated. Maxey’s overall three-point percentage stands at an impressive 40.9% on 9.6 attempts per game. Historically, only Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, and Malik Beasley have maintained over 40% shooting on at least nine attempts per night for an entire season, placing Maxey in elite company. Maxey attributes this accuracy to meticulous preparation: "I don’t shoot shots that I don’t work on. I don’t just try stuff. Every shot that I shoot is a shot that I worked on before, so I have confidence in it."
Beyond his shooting, Maxey’s blistering speed allows him to consistently penetrate defenses. His 14.9 drives per game rank 10th in the league, and his 5.6 restricted area attempts per game are sixth among guards. Despite standing at 6-foot-2, he finishes at the rim with a highly respectable 62.1% efficiency.
Now firmly established as the primary focus of opposing scouting reports, Maxey has had to adapt his game. "I’ve seen a lot of different things, like a lot," Maxey noted. "The ball went up for the tip in Toronto, I was getting face-guarded immediately. I’ve been trapped, I’ve seen blitzes." The Orlando Magic, in a recent blowout victory, offered a blueprint for containing him, holding Maxey to a season-low 20 points on 15 shots—eight below his season average—by aggressively selling out to deny him scoring opportunities.
Maxey’s response to this heightened defensive attention has been to embrace his role as a playmaker. His 73.4 passes per game rank second in the league, and both his assists per game (7.8) and assist rate (32.5%) are career-highs. Remarkably, despite the increased decision-making burden, Maxey has maintained exceptional efficiency, emerging as one of only five players in the league with a usage rate of at least 29% and a turnover rate below 10% (minimum 10 games played).
The primary concern surrounding Maxey’s extraordinary season is its sustainability, particularly if Embiid and George continue to be sidelined. George himself voiced concern: "He might not want to say it, but I know he’s tired, he’s gotta be tired." Maxey has been an ironman this season, not missing a single game despite various bumps and bruises. He has played at least 30 minutes every night, exceeded 40 minutes on eight occasions, and surpassed 45 minutes twice.
Coach Nurse, known for heavily relying on his star players, has maximized Maxey’s minutes. While there have been instances where rest could have been afforded—such as his continued play during a 40-point deficit in the third quarter against the Magic—the Sixers’ profound reliance on Maxey is undeniable. The team boasts a plus-2.8 net rating when he is on the floor, which plummets to a minus-11.6 net rating when he sits.
"It’s evident how much we need him," Nurse conveyed to The Athletic earlier this month. "The minutes are going to be there. They are going to be at around 40. He’s got to carry the load. That’s what we ask him to do, and he’s figured it out."
Maxey, driven by a singular focus, remains unfazed by the discussion surrounding his workload. "If I can run, I’m playing," he affirmed. "I don’t really care, I just want to win. However much I have to play to win, that’s what I’m gonna do."
The Philadelphia 76ers have placed an immense responsibility on Tyrese Maxey, and he has responded with an unprecedented surge in performance. As he continues to redefine his capabilities, the rest of the NBA has taken full notice of the emergent star vying for the league’s scoring crown.
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