Tyrese Maxey showed patience for over a year as he became a rookie max-caliber player but chose to defer signing a new contract to give the 76ers the room to pursue max free agents like Paul George this summer. Maxey appeared on George’s podcast to discuss the first major contract extension of his career.
“This is going to be my first time really being able to talk about it. So for me, it was hard, you know what I’m saying? Way hard. I put in a lot of work, then when the work shows, and the results come, and you perform at the highest level as far as just stepping into different roles and doing whatever they ask you to do… do all those different things, and you want to reap the benefits of course.”
Maxey revealed it was hard for him to stay patient and wait for a contract, but is happy it all worked out after he put in a lot of work into it.
“So it’s like when it came to me when the opportunity presented itself, it’s hard. You see your peers get paid, you see your peers reap the benefits that they deserve, and you just feel like you failed yourself because of all the work that you put in. But I understood, where they were coming from, and I think it worked out. It worked out in the long run. I feel like not just for myself but for the team as well. Now I think I’m sitting here with one of my teammates because of it.”
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Maxey averaged 25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists last season, being named to his first NBA All-Star team and being awarded the 2024 Most Improved Player of the Year trophy. Maxey thrived after James Harden left the team, arguably surpassing Harden’s production and being a more impactful player for the 76ers.
Unfortunately, Maxey spent most of the season without Joel Embiid available beside him, which led to a poor win-loss record (14-20 when Maxey played without Embiid). Nonetheless, the 23-year-old point guard has proven he’ll be a star for the future. With Paul George joining the team as well, this three-headed monster with the depth of the 76ers’ rotation should finally end their second-round woes.
Maxey Is Excited To Play With George
Given the vast number of young hoopers that George has inspired through his sensational play in the 2010s, Maxey is extremely excited to play alongside the veteran forward and thinks the sky is the limit for the team.
“He’s that guy who you can pick up and plug into any system because of his talent. He’s 6’9″. This guy can shoot the ball, rebound the ball, and pass the ball well. Play on the ball, play off the ball, play off hand-offs, play off transitions. Like, you know, the sky is the limit.”
Embiid is a former MVP winner, George is a former MVP finalist, and Maxey will hope to be an All-NBA player in the near-future. The future in Philadelphia is bright, primarily because drafting Maxey 21st in the 2021 Draft ensured the team has a bright young star despite mismanagement of assets like Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, James Harden, and more in the last five years.
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