If you blinked while reading this, you probably already missed a Tyrese Maxey highlight. Shoot, there goes another one. The 23-year-old All-Star point guard is lightning-quick on the basketball court.
If you know about the NBA and the Philadelphia 76ers, then you definitely know about all-world, superstar center and lightning rod, Joel “The Process” Embiid. Let me introduce you to the child-like little brother that the 7-foot center crowned as “The Franchise” earlier this season.
Maxey-mizing His Opportunity
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With a brand new head coach and additional space on the floor minus ball-hog James Harden this season, Maxey excelled in a new pick-and-roll screen utilizing the speedy 6-2 ball-handler and his gargantuan 7’0 teammate from Cameroon. Coaches now had to pick their poison. Stop Embiid from scoring or attempt to stop Maxey from turning the corner, kissing the ball off glass & through nylon netting.
See, Joel knew Philadelphia had a secret weapon in its back pocket, even after Harden demanded out of the city before the start of the season. Nick Nurse even mentioned it in his welcoming press conference over the summer before ever meeting with his squad. Tyrese Maxey, and his cheetah-like quickness, were going to be a problem for the rest of the NBA this season.
“The Franchise” Tyrese Maxey
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On a boring mid-November day in Philadelphia, only a few short weeks after the heartbreak of the 2023 Philadelphia Phillies failing to return to the World Series, the blazing-hot 76ers were doing their best to best to ease the pain with an 8-1 start to the season. Embiid, the NBA’s reigning MVP from 2022, was seemingly healthy, had two functional knees, and a pep in his step.
But it wasn’t the former MVP’s turn to shine on this evening near the Indy Motor Speedway. No, this time, it was the NBA’s Most Improved Player with the chance to steal the show. The young guard with an ever-present smile that shows authentic joy every time he laces his shoes and steps onto a court. A week after his 23rd cake celebration, that “secret weapon” dropped 50 points on the Pacers. Tyrese Maxey was dubbed “The Franchise” by Philly’s star center and a legend was born.
That was the first of THREE 50-point outbursts for the first-time NBA All-Star guard this year.
Maxey Loses His Big Buddy For Weeks
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In late January, the 76ers season took a dramatic turn and the gameplan of Nick Nurse went up in smoke as Embiid suffered a torn meniscus in a road game against Golden State. Philly was cruising at 29-17 and Joel wanted to remain in the MVP conversation again. That quest cost him two months on IR, while the team entered a free-fall in the standings. Without the protection of his big man, what could Tyrese do on his own?
Maxey only entered Utah the following evening and set a new career-high with 51 points leading Philly to a massive 127-124 win. Over the next two months, opposing coaches would adjust their defensive coverages showing a variety of new looks in their attempt to slow down the Garland, TX native. The Sixers went 5-8 without Embiid and landed seventh in the Eastern Conference Playoff scene.
SHHH! Maxey Silences The Garden in Game Five
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Tyrese Maxey and friends entered the post-season full of uncertainty. How would they handle Jalen Brunson’s elite offensive skills? Even with Embiid returning to the line-up, would the Sixers have enough overall talent outside of Joel & Maxey to take a giant bite out of the Big Apple’s hope for a title?
In the first few games, it certainly did not look like it would be enough. Philadelphia struggled to contain Brunson and despite some close ballgames, the 76ers were staring at the face of elimination at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”. Even late in Game 5, Sixers fans were praying to whatever deities they support (or deny) to save the season & bring one more game back to South Broad Street in Philly.
Remember what I said about blinking at the beginning? Well, in that amount of time, you may have missed the Knicks lead vanish. Knicks fans were feeling cocky as Tyrese Maxey’s best Stephen Curry imitation sends the game to OT. The Sixers finished the story with a 112-106 win keeping their season alive at least until Thursday evening’s Game 6 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
About the Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. With a varied professional background that includes an M.B.A. in Sports Management, Chris can speak with authority on the subject matters that he covers. Additional insightful sports articles can be located here.
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