Tyrese Maxey has established himself as one of the most popular players in the NBA this season with a series of scintillating performances. During his time in the league thus far, Maxey has showcased his scoring talents on numerous occasions, but one attribute that has continually come under scrutiny is his ability to be the Philadelphia 76ers’ primary playmaker. These criticisms should now be a thing of the past after his last performance against the Celtics.
The electric guard has become the 76ers’ offensive talisman as star forward Joel Embiid continues the grueling journey back to his devastating best. His three-level scoring has developed at an absurd pace, and now, combined with an elite level of playmaking, Maxey exhibits all the hallmarks of the face of a franchise.
Maxey’s playmaking leap was on display against the Celtics
Much of the discussion leading up to the new campaign was that Philadelphia had one of the deepest backcourts in the entire NBA; however, it lacked an on-ball creator who could work with Maxey and allow him to flourish as a goalscorer.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old seemingly took that assessment as a personal attack on his basketball ability. Through the Sixers’ first five regular-season games, he has consistently shown his superior vision and basketball IQ.
Maxey’s scoring is at an all-time high as he scores 34.2 points per game, which could indicate that creating for his teammates is at the bottom of his offensive priorities. This has not proven to be the case as he averaged 9.4 assists per game while recording a career-high 14 assists in the 108-109 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Statistics should be the start of every conversation, but never the end. This wasn’t a game where Maxey was constantly throwing the ball in Embiid’s direction and hoping the 2023 Most Valuable Player would sink a majority of the shots he took; the Kentucky graduate showed off a wider range of inventions.
In transition, Maxey was unstoppable in both scoring and playmaking against Boston. With about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia’s newest star grabbed a rebound and within a split second he transformed into an elite quarterback, laying down a penetrating pass for Quentin Grimes to finish with an easy layup.
Maxey’s explosive moves allowed him to leave defenders behind and drive aggressively toward the basket. Due to his phenomenal scoring tear of late, the opposition in a panicked frenzy threw bodies at him in the paint, leaving his teammates open at the rim or able to get to the basket for an easy two points. His new-found composure on the interior now allows him to spot those crisp passes and has created a new dimension to the 76ers’ offense.
Any accusation that Tyrese Maxey cannot be the main playmaker for the Philadelphia 76ers is quickly refuted with a series of displays that showcase his ability to create chances both on and off the ball. With some defensive reinforcements, the 76ers hope their budding superstar can lead this roster to the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference.
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