76ers’ Tyrese Maxey makes a personal revelation amid Joel Embiid’s injury woes

Tyrese Maxey was one of the best rising stars during the 2023-24 NBA season. In fact, the Philadelphia 76ers All-Star ended up winning the league’s Most Improved Player award for his rise from supporting player to main star alongside Joel Embiid. However, Maxey’s rise to greatness for the Sixers might not have happened if not for Embiid and his injury woes.

While Maxey and the 76ers didn’t want Embiid to miss a large chunk of time last season, the 2022-23 MVP’s absence allowed the young guard to find himself as this team’s leading scorer. Now, with Paul George and Embiid sidelined to start the season, Maxey has a chance to be Philadelphia’s sole leader.

That’s exactly his mindset going into opening night against the Milwaukee Bucks, as Maxey shared his thoughts on his own personal growth with ESPN’s Michael Wilbon before Wednesday’s game.

“I didn’t want Joel (Embiid) to go out last year. You know, you never want anybody to get hurt, but it was the best thing for me and my development,” Maxey admitted during pregame warmups. “I saw a lot of different defenses being the main focus of an offense that the other teams planned. I got to see a lot of different things and change my mind and perspective. Now, he has prepared me for this moment.

“Even when he (Joel Embiid) plays, he allows me to be the best version of myself, so I really appreciate him.”

Tyrese Maxey’s rise to become a complete guard

Between filling the No. 1 offensive role for the Sixers and having a full offseason to work on his craft, the youngster has developed into a complete point guard for the 76ers. That’s been a point of emphasis for Maxey in the offseason, and it’s something head coach Nick Nurse has challenged him with.

“I think the biggest thing for me is getting to know everybody: when they went to the ball, how they want the ball, how to get the guys involved at all times. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve worked on this summer and that’s something you can’t work on alone,” Maxey told reporters during the preseason. “I had a lot of days where I was playing three-on-three, four-on-four, where all I did was pass and try to put guys in the right place to score the ball. And I think that grew my game, not just seeing the game, my communication level of the game, putting guys in the right spot, telling them, ‘OK, go here, go there.’

The 2023-24 season proved to be a big one for Maxey as he averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from three-point range. His usage rate and efficiency increased, which is exactly what was needed since Embiid only played in 39 games. Maxey ended up leading the 76ers to a 47-35 record, but they ran out of gas in the playoffs, losing in the first round to the New York Knicks.

Even though Embiid and George are out to start the season, Maxey and the Sixers remain confident in their abilities to return to the playoffs. This time, however, the expectations are that this team can make a run and make its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since Allen Iverson led the franchise to the NBA Finals in 2001.

A true star at the point guard position hasn’t existed in Philadelphia since Iverson ran the show. Embiid and George may get all the attention as veteran superstars, but Maxey has proven to be arguably the most important player on this team. With even more opportunities to grow as the team’s primary option in the wake of the Sixers’ injury concerns, Maxey will only continue on his own path to superstardom.