The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a 4-0 start and sit atop the Eastern Conference at this early point in the season. Most of the credit goes to All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who has come out with fire to start his sixth season as a pro. He has embraced being the team’s No. 1, and unlike last season, he has dominated from the start.
Through four games, Maxey has registered averages of 37.5 points and 8.3 assists per outing while knocking down 45.5 percent of his shots and 47.7 percent from three-point territory. He has taken on the role of flamethrower, but he is doing so more efficiently than during the previous campaign, where he struggled to organize efficient shooting nights as opposition defenses were doubled on him.
If we’re being honest, Maxey should be one of the top contenders for the Most Valuable Player award. He has been so electric to start the seasonand while his numbers will eventually decline, there is nothing certain to stop him from maintaining his dominant form.
And if so, the soon-to-be 25-year-old might just force everyone in league circles into uncomfortable conversations.
Tyrese Maxey has a strong case to be considered one of the best point guards in the league
At this point, it would be difficult to name a handful of point guards who have been better than Maxey. In fact, the fair question might be this: Is there a point guard better than him right now?
If we talk holistically, there are only two: reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and if we want to ignore health and availability, Luka Doncic. Maxey is the top scorer in the entire competition and has taken an important step as a playmaker. Right now he has it all as a floor general and scorer.
Maxey was also better than Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell – three players who have become fixtures on All-NBA teams.
Sooner or later, Maxey might even threaten to knock SGA and Luka out of their current positions. There’s nothing definitive to suggest that Maxey has stopped developing, and he still has plenty of room for improvement when it comes to optimizing his shot diet and playing a key role in defense.
That may be a good choice, but prejudices aside: is it really that crazy?
Well, given the way he’s been playing, this is closer to a rational estimate than you think.
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