Tyrese Maxey gets a little help from a friend at his Thanksgiving event: Jaylen Brown
Brown wanted to do his part to help Maxey’s foundation: “Someone that has your back in the community, you know they are going to have your back on the court.”
Shortly after the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey’s foundation held its Night of Giving.
Maxey’s new teammate Brown made sure to make an appearance and a donation in support of the event. Then on Saturday, as Maxey held what has become an annual Thanksgiving meal drive, Brown wanted to contribute again. This time he did so as a partner in helping to amplify the reach of the event, which is set to give around 5,000 Thanksgiving meals to families in need across five different locations in Philadelphia.
“That’s just who he is, and I’m just very thankful,” Maxey told the Inquirer this week. “I told him whatever he does, I’ll be a part of, and whatever I’ll do, you know, he’s more than welcome to be a part of.”
Brown, donning an Atlanta Braves “A” cap for his hometown, and Maxey were at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center early Saturday morning, spending some time with families and volunteers at the event before they had practice a few hours afterward.
» READ MORE: Gift Share Fans show appreciation to Tyrese Maxey, who hosted his fifth annual holiday turkey giveaway
For Maxey, the Thanksgiving event is “up there at the top” of the multiple campaigns his foundation puts on each year. It started in 2022 and was born out of one of his “crazy ideas” he brought to those who work with him.
“Just being able to see people happy, you know, see people crying tears of joy, and then I always have my family there, so my entire family is there giving back and doing that, it’s really great,” Maxey said.
This season, he had Brown there to help up the total number of meals they are able to dish out. With a smile, Maxey said Brown had “a lot of ability” to contribute to the event’s success, given Brown’s resources through his 7uice Foundation. When Maxey began the event, the foundation handed out 400 meals. That has increased each year, culminating in the 5,000 this year.
“Someone that has your back in the community, you know they are going to have your back on the court,” Maxey said.
Maxey said he wasn’t aware of just how heavily involved Brown was in the community in Boston during his 10 years there. When Brown threw a goodbye block party this summer, city and state officials showed up to give him thanks and a key to the city.
“Every minute that he has, he poured into the city,” Boston mayor Michelle Wu said at the event. “We’re never going to let you forget us.”
When Brown had his first press conference with the Sixers, he held it at the Francis Myers Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia in part to highlight his commitment to finding his own way to make an impact on his new home.
» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey has urged VJ Edgecombe to ‘go do that VJ stuff.’ Edgecombe is listening.
As Maxey has gotten to know Brown in a new light as a teammate, he said Brown was somebody Philadelphia should be proud to “get behind.”
“I appreciate him,” Maxey said. “He’s a great guy, and that’s just really cool to be able to do something with your teammate like that. I’m very thankful for him. Thankful and glad that we have him in the city of Philadelphia.”
Barlow at practice
Dominick Barlow participated at the Sixers practice ahead of their game against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Barlow has not played this season as he recovers from a low back stress reaction. Nurse added that the practice “wasn’t super intense” The team hasn’t put a timeline on his return.
“I don’t know when he’ll be ready to go, but at least he’s making some progress now,” Nurse said.
