Tyrese Maxey has quickly become the leader of the Philadelphia 76ers.
With Joel Embiid’s ongoing injury struggles and Paul George’s on-court performances, Tyrese Maxey could well be the Philadelphia 76ers’ best player this season as they hope to battle into the playoffs.
The Sixers are staring down the barrel of another bleak year after an injury-riddled offseason. But there is some hope for the future. Maxey is 24 years old and ready to take the franchise forward as a star, and their young center, Adem Bona, had a solid rookie season.
Bona was a second-round pick and proved himself to be a solid defensive player for Philadelphia, averaging a block per game. He’s going to be an essential piece for the team in the absence of Embiid.
Maxey complimented Bona’s progress during preseason, but had one major complaint about his young teammate’s game.
Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey said Adem Bona needs to stop fouling
At 6’8”, Bona is an impressive rim protector, rebounder, and lob threat. He’s precisely the type of player a point guard like Maxey loves playing alongside, and he was quick to compliment his teammate’s development.
But Maxey was left frustrated by Bona’s inability to stay on the floor after getting into foul trouble.
He said, “I think he’s been playing really good. The only problem I have with Bona is stop fouling. ‘Stop fouling, dude.’ Like I understand, the ball is right there. He’s like, ‘The ball was right there in front of me. So I reached.’ No, don’t do that. But he’s been doing good, really well.”
Bona bites on every pump fake with his incessant desire to block shots. That gets him in foul trouble and frequently sends his opponents to the foul line. In the Sixers’ three preseason games to date, Bona has picked up two quick fouls to put him on the bench.
In a game against the Orlando Magic, Bona picked up his third foul with just under eight minutes left in the half. In foul trouble, he managed only nine minutes of action before the break.
That’s not going to cut it for the Sixers as Embiid recovers from injury, and Maxey is right to hold his teammate accountable for this. With all of the injuries they have, Philadelphia needs as many bodies available to them as possible.
Philadelphia 76ers need Tyrese Maxey’s leadership
It’s a promising sign for the Sixers that Maxey is willing to hold his teammates to a high standard. They need him to become a vocal leader if they want anything out of this season.
The relationship between the 76ers and Embiid had deteriorated in the midst of his ongoing injuries, creating a fracture within the organisation. When he’s on the court, he’s a superstar player, but his playing time is decreasing with each season.
That said, Philadelphia would gladly welcome their new era this season. It’s time for Maxey to take the torch. He played his role as a second, star on this Philadelphia team, and stepped up majorly last season to show he can be their leading man.
26 points per night was a career-high for Maxey, who has increased his scoring output year by year. But this isn’t a season for on-court performances. He’s now the face of the franchise.
Maxey himself said he needs to grow up in the absence of Embiid, and he has been the team’s voice over the summer. Maxey has praised rookie VJ Edgecombe throughout the offseason, along with his other young teammates.
If he’s ready for the role, this could be the year that the 76ers transition from the Embiid to the Maxey era. Maxey just needs to prove he’s good enough to take that mantle.