BBNBA Season in Review: Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey’s rookie season was as exciting as it was chaotic. In the midst of a wild year across the league, Maxey found a way to prove his value on a title contender and No. 1 seed in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers. The pastures are in fact greener for this kid. Heck of a future coming on the court for one of the younger Wildcats.

Here’s how his rookie season played out and where Tyrese will progress in year two.

Numbers

Regular season averages (per game): 8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.4 steals

Playoff averages (per game): 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 blocks

Shooting splits (regular season): 46.2% FG, 87.1% FT, 30.1% 3p on 1.7 attempts per game

More (extra & interesting) stats

• Season-high of 39 points
• Started 8 of 61 games
• Played in every Playoff game

This past season

First-year 76er Tyrese Maxey is hot off a solid rookie season and an enlightening playoff spurt. Though he wasn’t a primary rotation player, Maxey showed flashes. For rookies that aren’t top picks, flashes are all you look for in year one.

In the playoffs, despite scoring less and shooting worse than in the regular season, Maxey was a consistent spark off the bench. For stretches of both the Washington and Atlanta series, Maxey was deployed as a defensive pest to Bradley Beal and Trae Young, and he also provided speed and aggressiveness off the dribble that this Philly roster desperately lacked.

Maxey is a lucky rookie to have seen playoff minutes. The experience of playing in the postseason as a younger player is a massive advantage down the road. He earned those minutes, too. As the regular season winded down, Maxey got the opportunity to step in and prove himself with an increase in playing time, which he did.

He was trusted in the postseason to fill in for those guys because of how he closed out the regular season. In the back half of April, he averaged 12 points a game on 52% shooting, then in the final six games of the season, he scored 14.8 points per game (third on the team over that stretch), shooting a blazing 46% from three.

The last month of the season was the crucial stretch for Maxey. He impressed the coaching staff enough to earn rotation minutes as a rookie in the playoffs — and he impressed on both sides of the ball in that role as well.

Looking ahead…

Maxey’s final month and playoff performance assure he’ll be a valuable piece to the 76ers going forward. Unfortunately, with the Ben Simmons debacle and the trade rumors swirling around him, it’s possible Tyrese ends up being dealt along with Simmons for another star to put next to Joel Embiid.

I hope that isn’t the case, and if not, Maxey is due for a large uptick in playing time next year. He proved in year one he can hang with the big dogs in a Playoff setting. Plus, he brings certain skills and athletic traits the Sixers desperately missed during this year’s postseason aside from him.

His ability to penetrate off the dribble and create good shots for himself is what makes him such an appealing player moving forward. It’s why I would have drafted him a lot higher out of college. When he wants to, Maxey can get good looks. The shots may not go in as often as they need to yet, but a lack of efficiency is an easier problem to fix than not being athletic or skillful enough to create your own offense.

Maxey is a bucket-getter in a league dominated by offense, and his best side of the ball at this stage of his career is probably defense.

Bright, bright future ahead for this kid. Love his smile, love his game. Go get ’em Ty!

(Looks like he’s already getting a head start on year two)

I wouldn’t expect anything different from @TyreseMaxey!!!https://t.co/t5MRqrf3va

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 25, 2021