After a summer full of Ben Simmons trade drama, media day offered an opportunity for the Philadelphia 76ers and Doc Rivers to talk about their other players while looking ahead to the upcoming regular season. One player who was frequently mentioned was fan-favorite Tyrese Maxey.
Of all the current players on the roster, Maxey might be atop the list of players Sixers' fans are most excited to see play this year. After all the promise he showed in year one, many can't wait to see what the young guard can do in his sophomore season.
Fans are not the only ones excited for Maxey's future. Head coach Doc Rivers also had a lot of positive things to say about the former first-round pick. Rivers praised the Sixers' 2020 draft class all throughout last season for their work behind the scenes during the season and continued to be impressed by their effort in the offseason to be ready for their second season as professionals.
I said this last year about them. This is the best working young group I've ever had in my 21 years. Then they did it again this summer. That group is, for whatever reason, just workers.
All three players the Sixers walked away with on draft night 2020 have good potential, but Maxey is clearly the star of the bunch. He showed on multiple occasions last season that he should not have fallen to pick 21. “He just has all the ingredients, in my opinion, to turn out to be a heck of a basketball player for us for a long time,” said Doc Rivers during his media availability.
With Simmons remaining to hold out until his trade demands are met, there is a ton of opportunity for some of the younger players to step up and show what they can do. Rivers made it clear on Monday that whether Simmons eventually shows up or not, Maxey will be a focal point of the team moving forward.
I don't want to bestow all this on him, but I am because I believe in him. He is going to be key with or without [Ben Simmons]. We're going to try to put him in positions to do that.
Rivers mentioned he has a plan in mind for what to do at point guard in the event Simmons never shows but declined to dive in any further. That said, one has to assume Maxey gets an opportunity as the fifth starter at some point. As the roster currently stands, he is really the only true point guard.
There is also a strong possibility he is the Sixers' sixth man of the future. His ability to put the ball on the floor and score in bunches is something the team has desperately needed in recent years.
Between the opportunity that is currently present and Doc Rivers already intent on giving him a larger role, Tyrese Maxey has a real chance to have a breakout year this season.
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