Tyrese Maxey draws similarities between Philadelphia fans and Kentucky fans

On the surface, there might not be a city with a more glaring oxymoron of a nickname than the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia sports fans are infamously rambunctious, so much so that the Eagles used to have a court and jail inside the Veterans Stadium. While an on-site courtroom is a thing of the past, Philadelphia fans are just as volatile as ever, quick to boo any athlete for the slightest of subpar performances.

Tyrese Maxey, however, is working hard to win them over.

Like many Kentucky guards in recent years, Maxey fell on draft day down to the 21st pick in 2020, where the Philadelphia 76ers finally took him. After a solid rookie campaign, Maxey exploded in year two, averaging 17.5 points and 4.3 assists per game and nearly 43% from behind the arc. RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks was the only 21-year-old in the NBA to average more points than Maxey last season.

Most importantly for Sixers fans, those stats translated to winning. Tyrese Maxey trailed only MVP candidate Joel Embiid in win shares on his team last season and was a major contributor on one of the top competitors in the Eastern Conference.

Maxey is now entering his third season which is essentially the contract year for rookies vying for the largest extension possible. He is using this summer to make his rounds in Philadelphia, endearing himself to a rabid fanbase, which isn’t unlike the one he enjoyed in college.

There might not be jail cells inside Rupp Arena, but that doesn’t mean the two fanbases don’t share commonalities.

Tyrese Maxey calls Philadelphia fans and Kentucky fans similar

Tyrese Maxey stopped by the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Cincinnati Reds recently to soak in some summer baseball. During an in-game interview, the Phillies announcer chatted with Maxey about a variety of topics, but the theme of the conversation surrounded how quickly Maxey connected with the Philly fanbase, which can sometimes be a little intense. The reason it was a smooth transition? Practice with Kentucky fans.

“Honestly, what really helped me playing in (Philadelphia) was going to the University of Kentucky. You know, because those two fanbases are pretty similar. They’re very similar. I can do nothing but appreciate both of those cities…Besides Garland, Texas being my actual hometown, Philadelphia and Lexington, those are my other homes. I feel like I’ve grown up a lot being in those two places and I really enjoy being here.”

Tyrese Maxey via NBA Sports

The Phillies announcers agreed, with one saying, “Both places, they expect you to win, but they hold you accountable, too. And if things don’t go well…” He didn’t finish the second half of the sentence because he didn’t have to.

As Cal would say, you people are crazy.

Tyrese Maxey keeps the Philly sports tour going

Philadelphia fans love all of their sports, not just one. Tyrese Maxey knows this and has been making himself present everywhere he can. He has attended a Phillies game, an Eagles game, and most recently served as the guest of honor at the Union game, Philadelphia’s Major League Soccer team.

A perk of such an honor involved banging a large drum pregame, something that looks a lot more fun than I would have anticipated.

The only Philadelphia team Maxey hasn’t yet attended is a Flyers game, which is excusable considering the NHL season runs parallel to the NBA.

Side note: Is it a requirement that all Philadelphia mascots be as creepy as possible?

.@TyreseMaxey on the drum tonight!!! 🤩 #DOOP |@sixers pic.twitter.com/E62BRru7xP

— x – PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) August 27, 2022

Tyrese Maxey played some summer basketball too

Waving to the crowd in street clothes and banging some drums hasn’t been Maxey’s only public presence this summer. He’s hit the hardwood as well.

Maxey participated in Philadelphia’s premiere Pro-Am summer tournament, the Rumph Classic. The games took place at La Salle University and benefited the Rumph Foundation, a charity designed to raise awareness and money for the early diagnosis of heart conditions. Now in its 17th year, the Rumph Foundation sprung from the untimely death of Philly native, Danny Rumph, who played college ball at Western Kentucky, but collapsed at a Philadelphia rec center and passed away from cardiac arrest at the tender age of 21.

The Rumph Classic featured not only Tyrese Maxey, but also former Kentucky guard, Quade Green. Currently in the G-League, Green balled out in the face of the ever-obnoxious Markieff and Marcus Morris on day one of the tournament, scoring 25 points and dishing out six assists to help his team earn the one-point victory over the Morris twins’ squad, FOE.

However, a few days later, FOE added Tyrese Maxey for the championship game (who wore his Kentucky jersey number #3) and no one was able to stop him. Maxey imposed his dominance with 34 points, including 15 straight in the second quarter, and 10 rebounds to help Team FOE win the title.

The Rumph Classic is one of Philadelphia’s most highly respected charity tournaments and Tyrese Maxey made his presence felt, much to the delight of every fan in attendance.

a casual Monday night at the @RumphClassic 👀@TyreseMaxey: 34 PTS | 10 REB@Zai_Joe1: 16 PTS pic.twitter.com/u8zUAt7QQm

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) August 9, 2022

Tyrese Maxey loves you back

There might not be too many populations within the United States that are more polar opposite than Philadelphia and Kentucky, yet the core strain that runs through both is their affection for their local sports teams.

The same passion that sometimes paints a negative stereotype of these fanbases is the same passion that fuels true love between the fans and the players. This is what Tyrese Maxey was talking about when he called the two fanbases similar — and in that regard, he’s not wrong.

During the aforementioned in-game Phillies interview, the announcer invoked what John Calipari said on draft night, claiming the city of Philadelphia is going to like Tyrese Maxey.

“That’s where [John] Calipari is wrong, we don’t like, Philly Sixers fans don’t like, we love Tyrese Maxey.”

Tyrese quipped back, “I love you all too. It’s mutual. It’s mutual.” And that is an area where Philadelphia fans and Kentucky fans are undoubtedly the same.