Before the Philadelphia 76ers were able to turn Ben Simmons into James Harden at the trade deadline, there were a lot of questions about who the 2nd star for the team would be in Simmons’ absence. Even with Harden now on the roster, his play has not been at the same level that was expected, meaning other players will have to step up to guarantee playoff success.
The big surprise of the season has been Tyrese Maxey, the 21-year-old who has stepped up massively this season. Having started 74 out of 82 games, Maxey’s averages have jumped up across the board. His scoring has taken the biggest leap, Maxey has averaged 17.5 points per game, hitting three-pointers at 42% while attempting over 4 a game, something praised by Joel Embiid earlier in the season.
Why this is significant is because, at 17.5 points per game, Maxey has posted a higher scoring average than Ben Simmons has ever managed with the Sixers. While Simmons was a better defender, it would seem that when it comes to scoring, he has already been passed by the new youngster, who could be seen as a potential superstar for the future if he can keep up his current rate of growth.
Simmons managed a maximum of 16.9 points in his second season playing in the league and has never managed to become a better scorer since. His numbers dropped by 2 points per game last season and he doesn’t look likelier to develop a shot than he did at any point before in his career.
While comparing Simmons to Maxey straight up at this point is a bit disingenuous, the Sixers will be pleasantly surprised by the incredible development Tyrese has displayed this season. If this continues, then his playoff performances might see him establish himself in the running for being considered a star alongside Joel Embiid and James Harden.
