The Philadelphia 76ers season was a disaster, but there is talent on the roster that the team can build around.
There were few positives for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024-25, a season which saw the team finish in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with just 24 wins.
The Sixers’ season was impacted by injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George, while Tyrese Maxey was also restricted to 52 games.
In his time on the court, Maxey displayed a high level of performance that saw him score a career best 26.3 points per game, and more is expected next year.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesDoc Rivers pays Tyrese Maxey big compliment
One of Tyrese Maxey’s former coaches has paid the Philadelphia 76ers star the ultimate compliment in terms of the modern NBA landscape.
Doc Rivers was the 76ers coach in 2020 when Maxey was drafted, and he played a part in his early development, playing him in 61 games in his rookie season.
Speaking on the Bill Simmons podcast, Rivers compared Maxey to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who he coached on the LA Clippers.
Rivers said: “He reminds me a lot of Maxey. It’s funny, as a coach, you have some of these young guys that are just sponges, it’s great.
“I coached Shai hard, I coached Maxey hard and both of them could take it. They wanted more. They wanted to learn. They just both are very similar.”
Rivers compared the demeanour of the two players totally changing, the second they get onto the court.
“You’d think they’re these nice guys like Shai, as you said, he comes off as this nice guy. Shai’s a stone blooded killer.
“He does not care about making you happy when you get on the floor. And he had that when he was a rookie.”
76ers have chance to reset
The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the big winners in the NBA Draft Lottery. They retained their protected top six pick, which would have gone to the OKC Thunder otherwise.
Their luck allowed them to land the third overall pick, which could see them select Ace Bailey, according to our latest Mock Draft.
Rumors persist over what the Sixers might do. It has even been speculated that they could trade up to two.
One way or another, the Sixers are expected to leave the Draft with a top tier talent to add to their team, alongside Maxey and last year’s impressive rookie Jared McCain.
And if Maxey can continue his development and take a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander type leap, then the future is looking bright.