Philadelphia's Second Star Problems Are Already Answered

James Harden Is In Los Angeles, Rumors Have The 76ers Looking To Pursue A Second Star But Is It Needed?

(Thanks AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Tyrese Maxey has been eagerly waiting for his opportunity to shine. His team, the Kentucky Wildcats, had an inconsistent season, winning 25 games and unfortunately, were not eligible for the NCAA Tournament. As a result, Maxey, who was once a top-10 recruit, decided to enter the 2020 NBA Draft.

After waiting for 20 names to be called on the COVID-19 version of the Draft, Tyrese Maxey's name was finally announced. As he put on his Sixers hat, he became emotional and tears started to roll down his cheeks. Maxey made a promise to the organization and the fans, pledging to work hard and do his best. But most importantly, making sure that the organization didn’t make a mistake in selecting him.

In his college scouting report, he transformed his weaknesses into strengths.

Pick And Roll Defense

A weakness of Maxey's was his inability to defend the pick-and-roll, which teams consistently exploited in his first three years in the league.

• 2020-21- 0.90 PPP- Allowing 38.9 FG% on 2.3 Possessions per game

• 2021-22- 0.87 PPP- Allowing 42% FG on 5.2 Possessions per game

• 2022-23- 0.98 PPP- Allowing 46.1% FG on 3.9 Possessions per game

• 2023-24- 0.56 PPP- Allowing 26.8% FG on 3.5 Possessions per game

It appears that the numbers suggest that Tyrese Maxey was getting accustomed to the league during his rookie season, especially while playing alongside Ben Simmons. During this time, he was able to display average skill as a Pick-and-Roll defender. However, when Simmons left the team and James Harden became the target of opposing teams, Maxey's performance improved significantly. With Harden now playing for another team, Maxey is currently showcasing his skills as an exceptional defender.

(Thanks NBA.com)

As you see in the clip above, Maxey’s effort on the pick-and-roll forced a missed shot by Cam Johnson one of the better overall shooters in the league (In fact in this game Brooklyn shot 1-6 while being guarded by Maxey in the pick-and-roll). As of November 21st, Maxey allows the second-fewest points per possession in the pick-and-roll in the entire NBA( With at least 50 possessions).

Catch And Shoot Long Range Shooting

During his college career, Tyrese struggled with shooting from beyond the arc. He only shot 29.3% from the three-point line, and his performance during SEC Conference games was even worse at 28%. Additionally, he failed to make a single three-point shot in 12 games. Despite attempting 113 three-point shots with less than 4 seconds left on the shot clock, he was still considered a liability when he entered the league.

At Kentucky, he shot only 25% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. As a result, NBA teams forced him to take those shots.

• 2020-21- 15.2% of his 3 Point attempts at 32.3% (21-65)

• 2021-22- 16.5% of his 3 Point attempts at 45.1% (74-164)- 17th Overall

• 2022-23- 23.1% of his 3 Point attempts at 45.5% (96-211)- 5th Overall

• 2023-24- 14.9% of his 3 Point attempts at 50% (19-38)- 4th Overall

Maxey's performance in the NBA has been remarkable. As a rookie, he was ranked in the 200s but has since climbed up the ranks and is currently placed 4th this season in catch-and-shoot three-point percentage. He has consistently improved his game, going from scoring 8.0 points per game as a rookie to 17.5 points per game in his second year. Maxey's success can be attributed to his ability to hit threes accurately. He improved his three-point shooting by 12%, attempting 203 more three-pointers than the previous season.

Maxey's unguarded shot percentages have skyrocketed since his rookie season, according to Synergy Sports:

• 2020-21- 29.6% on 54 attempts

• 2021-22- 48.4% on 154 attempts

• 2022-23- 50.6% on 162 attempts

• 2023-24- 57.1% on 27 attempts

Maxey is the only player in the league to finish in the top 20 for attempted three-pointers over the past 2 seasons, and he's on his way to doing it for 3 consecutive seasons.

Maxey, being a rookie, was frequently left with a lot of space by the opposing teams, who challenged him to take a shot. This is seen in the video clip below, where Maxey was presented with an open opportunity to catch and shoot a three-pointer, with a gap of about 3-5 feet between him and his nearest defender.

This season, Maxey's improved confidence in catch-and-shoot opportunities is evident when he receives the ball from Joel Embiid. This is a direct result of the consistent hard work that he puts in.

Maxey has shown impressive improvement in areas that were a concern in his scouting report. He has gone from being a valuable reserve to a starting player and is now a potential first-time NBA All-Star. Maxey has fulfilled his commitment to the Sixers organization, and it is now their responsibility to build around him and the reigning MVP, Embiid. Instead of trading for another superstar, the team should focus on strengthening the current core. Which will allow their homegrown star to flourish even further.