Tyrese Maxey (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Tyrese Maxey was chosen as the 21st overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. In the absence of star players due to injuries, Maxey played a crucial role for the team. The 23-year-old point guard reportedly agreed to a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension with the 76ers. The 76ers organization recently honored Maxey as a franchise player by creating a museum experience that showcased all of his achievements in his young basketball career. During the ceremony, Maxey expressed his gratitude to the 76ers’ star player, Joel Embiid, for believing in him from the start.

During his speech, he became emotional and talked about how Embiid helped him adjust when he first entered the NBA. Maxey mentioned that Embiid was the first person to believe in him and said that as a token of their friendship, Embiid gifted Maxey a PlayStation.

“Big fella, thanks for coming man, I really appreciate that. You were the first person to believe in me, I keep telling everybody that. Just walking onto the plane, you telling me to sit there, you bringing me a PlayStation meant the world to me; hope I’m not gonna let you down.” Maxey said.

Sixers’ Managing Partner Raves About Maxey After Contract Extension

In the 2023-24 season, Maxey was a key player for the 76ers, delivering many outstanding performances. As a result, he was named the 2023–24 NBA Most Improved Player. Maxey played a crucial role for the team when their star player, Embiid, was sidelined due to injuries. During Embiid’s absence of 2–3 months, the 23-year-old point guard helped the 76ers secure a spot in the playoffs. Despite Maxey’s contributions, the team fell short and lost to the New York Knicks in the first-round playoff series. According to StatMuse, Maxey averaged 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 70 games during the 2023-24 season. Additionally, he was selected to play in his first All-Star game.

After Maxey’s contract extension, Sixers’ Managing Partner, Josh Harris, praised their point guard and said, “Tyrese is an incredible basketball player and an even better person. From the moment he joined the 76ers organization, he has worked tirelessly every single day to grow and improve, and the results have been remarkable. His work ethic, drive, and energy inspire all of us, and I’m thrilled that he will be one of our franchise cornerstones for many years to come.”