It’s the end of April, and instead of being in the thicket of the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers are at home, watching from afar. As the Sixers approach a hopeful season of redemption with the return of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, questions still surround the franchise’s future.
Despite being considered potential contenders as recently as last season, the lack of positive development concerning Joel Embiid‘s left knee has left the organization in a precarious position for the next four seasons.
Throughout the years of the Process, the Sixers have gone as far as Joel Embiid has taken them. The hope is that Embiid can provide some semblance of his impact in previous seasons, but there has been little to suggest a return to form is anything close to likely. As such, it is time for the Sixers, first and foremost Embiid, to pass the torch and put 24-year-old Tyrese Maxey, who Embiid has already dubbed “The Franchise,” at the center of their universe.
The Sixers have built their offense, their roster, and their organization around Embiid effectively since his superiority as a player over Ben Simmons became undeniable. Unfortunately, barring the unlikely scenario that Embiid can return to a near-MVP caliber player who can play 60-plus games and maintain a relatively healthy status in the playoffs, that approach is no longer their best chance at success.
There are concerns that Maxey’s ceiling, while far higher than most initially expected, will never reach that of a top-15 or even top-20 player. Yet, in each season he has played, Tyrese Maxey has made major strides in at least one area of his game.
When healthy, he features fringe-elite scoring ability, a reputation as an elite shooter, and now, has become a serviceable defender. Aside from continuing to hone those skills, all that’s left for Maxey is to grow further as a passer.
While Maxey’s assist numbers have also improved, he’s yet to take a true leap in passing ability, as his assists are more of a function of his increased usage as the team’s point guard. A scheme built more suited to supporting Maxey rather than Embiid could help cultivate growth in this area.
While an elite skill set is crucial to the face of a franchise, so is leadership ability, something Joel Embiid has often been criticized for. While some have acknowledged Embiid’s improved efforts in this area in recent years, this season once again showed his inconsistency as a leader, offering seasoned veterans the opportunity to evaluate the leadership chops of Tyrese Maxey in his place.
“I think this is a good learning process for him,” Eric Gordon said of Maxey in his end-of-season media availability. “I encourage him to speak up as much as he can, because with his personality, his demeanor, his [willingness] to work, it’s contagious, like towards our team. Not just on performing on the floor, but just continue talking to the guys, because he has a good relationship with everybody, and he has a personality to really take this team to another level, based on his personality.”
Maxey notably took a stand in the locker room earlier last season, reportedly challenging Embiid about his lack of punctuality and other harmful habits that set a poor example for the team. Maxey’s willingness to address Embiid in this fashion in front of their teammates was not an example of the limits of his patience being reached, but instead of another positive step forward in his leadership journey, not only having the courage to speak to a veteran of Embiid’s stature in such a way, but knowing how to do so in a productive way. This speaks to his impressive communication ability,
“I think just his overall communication, his leadership, aspects of being a great leader, and using his voice more,” Kyle Lowry said of Maxey’s strides this past season.
“I think even, you know, even when he messed his finger up, and he still was out there trying to play, trying to help guys get better. I think the maturation of him, understanding what to do to pick-and-rolls and getting double-teamed and trying to make others around him better, is coming to form. His future is as bright as anybody in this league, and he’s just going to continue to get better, take the summer and get his body to a different place and his mind to a different place, and his game to a better place.”
As Lowry said, Tyrese Maxey’s future is as bright as any player in the NBA. His rare combination of playing and leadership ability should be embraced in this time of uncertainty. Philadelphia, from the organization to the coaching staff, to Embiid himself, would be wise to allow Tyrese Maxey to assume the team’s throne.
