Tyrese Maxey had himself quite a season last year. In February, he became an All-Star. In the spring, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player and won the Sportsmanship Award. The most astonishing fact about Maxey’s meteoric rise is that he’s only 23 years old. Come October, he will already be playing in his fifth season before he turns 24. The Sixers truly hit the lottery with Maxey in the 2020 draft.
If Maxey elevates his game once again this season, the Sixers can cash in that ticket as they continue to pursue an NBA title. Just look at his leap after James Harden was traded. Maxey saw an impressive increase in points per game (+5.6). His assists even went up (+2.7), while his turnovers (1.7) remained low. Yet, there is no such thing as a perfect player.
How can Tyrese Maxey improve in the 2024-25 season?
Offensively and defensively, Maxey still has room to grow. Whether it’s adding a midrange game or defending the pick-and-roll, these skills can be polished.
Expectations must be tempered in other statistical categories. Maxey is only 6-foot-2, so blocks and rebounds are not part of this analysis. However, if you consider his scoring and shot attempts, you can nitpick at the number of free throw attempts he earned last season.
Tyrese Maxey at the Line
While Giannis Antetokounmpo was first in the NBA with 10.7 free throw attempts per game, Maxey was 21st, wedged between Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. He was eighth among guards, getting to the line 5.4 times per game.
Maxey got plenty of touches on the Sixers, emerging as the team’s second scoring option to Joel Embiid. Plus, Maxey was third in the NBA in minutes per game at 37.5. It’s not like he didn’t have an opportunity to get more free throw attempts, so what can he do this season to get more shots at the line?
At this point, it’s well-known that Maxey is a downhill player. His speed is an asset in so many ways. If he can initiate more contact while in his shooting motion, his newly crowned All-Star status will get him even more calls from referees. Throw in more pump fakes and patience, like how former mentor Sam Cassell used to do as a player, and Maxey will add more trips to the foul line. (Cassell averaged 7.7 FTA in 1998-99)
Would developing a post-game help him get more attempts from the free throw line the way Jalen Brunson does? Probably, but Jalen Brunson has had that element to his game going back to his Villanova days. It would take Maxey some time to learn that skill and then refine it.
While he may never reach the free throw volume of Luka Dončić or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who were both tied at 8.7 attempts per game, Maxey could realistically be in the realm of Damian Lillard, who averaged seven charity stripe attempts last year.
The benefit of more FTs
Let’s start with his free-throw percentage. Maxey was a top-25 free-throw shooter in the NBA last season, knocking down a stellar 86.8 percent of his attempts. As the 24th-best free-throw shooter, who played more minutes than Maxey? Nobody.
Imagine if he got to the line just a few more times per game this season. Not only would it pressure defenders to stay out of foul trouble, but it would also put more points on the board for the Sixers. Those close games where the Sixers are clinging to a late lead could be cushioned with more Maxey foul shots.
In addition, Maxey at the line more gives Embiid a few extra breaks on the court. Though not a guaranteed strategy, it is a relevant factor, given that Embiid loses steam later in games throughout the season.
Like Tony Stark, figuring out his Iron Man suit or Peter Parker perfecting his Spidey skills at the start of their superhero journey, Tyrese Maxey is close to reaching his full potential.
Will he win Defensive Player of the Year? Considering the shortest DPOY in history, Sidney Moncrief was 6-foot-3, most likely not. He can’t win Sixth Man of the Year because he’s a starter. MVP is out as long as Joel Embiid is the leader of the team.
Whatever Maxey enhances this season, it will only help the Sixers get closer to their collective goal. Will he take another leap in 2025? Judging by his character and past performance, very few people in Philly will be surprised if he does.
