Philadelphia 76ers, Tyrese Maxey (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
It might be only two preseason games into this new NBA year, but there’s plenty of hype surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers this season. They have two All-Stars in Joel Embiid and James Harden who are a dynamic pairing, to say the least.
However, they may not be the main reason why fans should be excited. There’s no doubt the duo has the resume to make this team a contender, however, it’s Tyrese Maxey who may be the answer to put this team over the top.
The Philadelphia 76ers might have their answer in Maxey.
Through two preseason games, Maxey has been on a tear. In the first preseason outing against the Brooklyn Nets, the young guard had 20 points, three assists, and one steal in just 14 minutes. He also shot 6-8 from the field and 2-4 from the 3-point line.
He followed up that performance with another great out against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He scored 21 points, two assists, and one steal while going 9-11 from the floor and a perfect 3-3 from downtown. He did all of this in just 15 minutes.
These are beyond fantastic stats in the preseason, but it’s important to remember it’s just the preseason. However, with that being written if you have seen him play it’s more than just the stats. His confidence is at an all-time high and the fact that he doesn’t seem rushed or bothered by defenders anymore is a good sign.
All indications are that the game has slowed down the third-year guard which makes him especially dangerous considering his speed and shooting touch. He could very well average more points than Harden does this season based on how well he’s played in the preseason.
If Maxey steps up as an elite scoring threat this season, it should push the Philadelphia 76ers into title contention.
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