The Philadelphia 76ers entered the season with more questions than answers. Joel Embiid’s availability was a big concern, and with Paul George also struggling to stay on the court, they weren’t considered to be championship contenders anymore.
Tyrese Maxey, however, wanted nothing to do with that. The former Kentucky standout has taken another big leap this season, putting Nick Nurse’s team on his shoulders to keep them afloat in the Eastern Conference race.
Maxey’s breakout hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Sixers’ front office. According to ESPN insider Ramona Shelburne, his strong play has made decision-makers shift their focus to him, as they know they can’t trust the other franchise players to stay healthy:
The 76ers are Tyrese Maxey’s team now
“I think the feeling is that this is Tyrese Maxey’s team, and over the summer it started to turn that page because people just frankly didn’t know when Paul George and Joel Embiid would be able to play, and so the Sixers had to pivot—and it turns out Tyrese Maxey is really good and he is the franchise now,“ Shelburne said.
There’s “feeling” around the #Sixers organization towards Tyrese Maxey becoming the leader of the franchise, @ramonashelburne said on NBA Today.
— Philly Sixers Galaxy (@sixers_galaxy) December 2, 2025
“I think the feeling is that this is Tyrese Maxey’s team, and over the summer it started to turn that page because people just… pic.twitter.com/ssvflMPWHu
Through the first 19 games of the season, Maxey has put up 32.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 46/38/87 shooting splits. The Sixers are sitting on a 10-9 record, which, considering all the injuries, isn’t that bad.
Embiid has only been able to play in seven games this season, and he’s averaging just 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. George, on the other hand, has made five appearances and is averaging 14.0 points per contest.
The Sixers still have plenty of talent on their roster. Guard V.J. Edgecombe has shown flashes of greatness, and Jared McCain is slowly regaining his impressive form from his rookie season. Quentin Grimes has also stepped up with 17.0 points per game.
Even if they don’t compete at the highest level this season, they still have a strong foundation for years to come. They might even consider moving on from George and Embiid, although, given their history of injuries and steep salaries, finding a willing trade partner for them might be easier said than done.
In the meantime, Maxey will continue to blossom as one of the most proficient three-level scorers in the game, giving Sixers fans the best guard play they’ve had since prime Allen Iverson.