Making the leap from very good NBA player to an all-star is something every team hopes for in their young players. Tyrese Maxey has made that jump so far this season for the Philadelphia 76ers and it comes at just the right time.
Philadelphia just moved on from James Harden after he was ultimately traded to the Clippers in a standoff with the team. The team moved Harden for Nic Batum, Robert Covington, K.J. Martin and Marcus Morris – all veteran role players that will allow Maxey to continue flourishing as a star.
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The development of NBA stars comes in three steps. Most players get stuck between the first two steps, which is understandable, leaving a small percentage of players moving on to be stars and an even smaller percentage into superstar status.
Step one is learning how to get your own shot and score at the NBA level.
Maxey proved that in year two when he jumped from 8.0 points per game to 17.5 points per game when he shifted to the starting lineup. In each of Maxey’s first four seasons he has improved his scoring total to where he is today one of the best scorers in the league.
Step two is to get yours, but with efficiency. Through four seasons Maxey has improved his overall shooting. He has also got to the line more per game every season.
Step three, the final step, is to get yours, get yours with efficiency and elevate your team at the same time. Make your teammates better.
That brings us to Maxey this season. This season Maxey has become a full-fledged all-star in the NBA.
This season Maxey is averaging career-highs across the board. He is up to 30.3 PPG. With a more open offense under new head coach Nick Nurse and Harden gone, Maxey is free to be in attack mode all game and is complimented by reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
That level of efficiency has been a big part of Maxey’s jump in scoring this season. Two other factors have been his ability to get to the free throw line and his control of the ball.
Through three games Maxey is averaging 7.7 free throw attempts per game, more than double his output last season and the second-best three-game stretch of his career. Getting to the free throw line with consistency is the hallmark of every great scorer.
Maxey is also taking care of the ball in a way that might not be sustainable, but he it is also in line with his career so far. This year Maxey has three total turnovers (1.0 per game) to 6.3 assists per game. For his career Maxey has an average of 1.1 turnovers per game.
There is not one variable that points to this being a four-game hot start from the year-over-year improvement, counting stats, advanced stats and most importantly the eye test.
While it is early in the season, it is clear that Maxey has made another leap this season into being an all-star in this league. Now in his fourth season Maxey can expect to be named to the All-Star team this season if he continues at this pace.
Maxey is a breath of fresh air in the NBA. He always has a smile on his face, just wants to compete and always gets better when challenged.
Playing with that level of joy and with Maxey’s style just adds to his star rising. When you have a player like Maxey that is as quick as De’Aaron Fox, shoots like Damian Lillard and is as competitive as Devin Booker you have the recipe for a star.
Philadelphia has moved on from one All-Star and is now ready for a younger, future All-Star that might just help the team finally reach its ceiling.
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