Tracing Tyrese Maxey’s maturation from undersized rookie to key cog in the LeBron James signing
Maxey's NBA ascension and relationship with James and Rich Paul played a large role in his decision to join the Sixers.
“He loves Maxey, so we don’t even have to talk about that.”
Rich Paul, Klutch Sports CEO and LeBron James’ agent, said those words on the Game Over podcast, as he laid out the framework for what would become James’ latest shocking free-agency decision.
Before James picked the 76ers, Paul let the general public know that the summer orchestrated by Mike Gansey and Bob Meyers had “changed everything.” That statement was centered on the blockbuster trade orchestrated to land All-NBA guard Jaylen Brown in a deal that sent Paul George to the Boston Celtics.
But shortly after that proclamation, Paul made it clear that Maxey would be a major linchpin if the Sixers were to gain traction with James. And that he was. Reports surfaced that Maxey led the charge as several Sixers players reached out to James and sold the all-time great on a pilgrimage to Philly to close his career.
» READ MORE: LeBron chose the hard, dramatic path when he picked the Sixers. Get ready for a wild ride, Philly.
For James, the Sixers’ ascension to an NBA title contender came with the extra benefit that he could play with Maxey. James was always interested in playing with Maxey, said a source close to James. The addition of Brown to a roster that already included Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe made that a reality.
But if we flipped the switch and went back six years, it would probably be a surprise to Maxey himself that James’ love for — and interest in playing alongside, a source close to James said — him was such a forgone conclusion.
Back then Maxey, who is also represented by Paul, was a rookie guard who had just slipped to the No. 21 pick in the 2020 NBA draft because of questions about his size and outside shooting.
Those questions persisted as he played behind former Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons as a rookie, playing sparingly and averaging 8 points on 30.1% shooting from three-point range.
The shift came the next season, when Maxey stepped in following Simmons’ holdout and eventual trade to the Brooklyn Nets. That year he became a full-time starter and put up 17.5 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 42.7% from deep.
Since then, Maxey has added something to his game every year. He focused on getting teammates involved more, he prioritized getting to the free-throw line more, and he learned to speak up in the locker room more.
When Sixers star Embiid needed a wake-up call, Maxey provided it. When standout rookie Edgecombe arrived ahead of schedule and needed a running mate, Maxey was there. And before George was traded, Maxey pushed him to be more aggressive on offense.
» READ MORE: How LeBron landed in Philly: Recapping King James’ free agency twists and turns that led to the Sixers
Maxey entered this summer as the unquestioned leader of the Sixers on and off the court, continuing his maturation as the franchise added new pieces to the front office and roster. He reached out to Brown after the trade that ended his 10-year tenure in Boston, and he reportedly led a trio of stars who recruited James directly.
Now that the hard work has paid off, he’ll be greeted with the challenge of playing point guard for a star-heavy roster with the most famous athlete on the planet.
Maxey’s ability to handle new challenges is what made him a player James wanted to play with and called a “little brother.”
But to be clear, James isn’t here for a family moment. He made that clear when he took to social media and explained why he chose the Sixers. That post was about his contemplation of retirement and decision that he still wants to compete. He believes Maxey and Embiid and Brown and Edgecombe can help him do that.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team,” James wrote on social media, “and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
So cue a new challenge for Maxey. He’s gone from No. 21 pick to starter to All-Star to All-NBA to key cog in the LeBron signing. We’ll soon see what comes next.
