Over the past two years, one of the glaring changes within the Philadelphia 76ers is culture. Thanks to changes in the organization from top to bottom, they have been able to turn a new leaf. This has resulted in a much tighter and more cohesive group.
This season, it's very evident guys like playing with one another. Between the way they talk about each other and their antics during games, the vibe is a breath of fresh air compared to years past.
Having such a strong bond has been a driving force for the Sixers through this first half of the regular season. Even with all the stuff going on behind the scenes, this group has stuck together and put on an impressive campaign thus far.
Another positive impact of this improved culture is it has gotten the best out of multiple players. Arguably the biggest example is Tyrese Maxey, who was thrust into an unexpected role to start the year.
Because of Ben Simmons' hiatus from the Sixers, Doc Rivers had a large hole to fill in his starting lineup. With minimal options, Maxey was tasked with being the team's new full-time point guard. Despite having to adapt to being a facilitator, the second-year guard has shown some nice flashes.
Thursday night against the Lakers might have been Maxey's best showing at point guard. The Sixers guard posted 14 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists en route to his first career double-double.
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After the game, Joel Embiid was quick to congratulate the young guard on his performance. He even jokingly said he thanked Maxey for “playing point guard and passing the ball.” The All-Star center then went into detail about the growth in their relationship off the court.
“That's my guy. We always hanging out. We talk about everything. We always enjoying each other, and that goes for the whole team. We are all very close. I think that's why we are able to do what we do on the basketball court,” said Embiid.
Based on their personalities, it is not shocking Embiid and Maxey have gravitated to each other. Since entering the NBA, Embiid has been ultra-competitive and hungry for greatness. Maxey shares that same desire to constantly improve and quickly built a reputation of being a gym rat. The common goal of wanting to become the best versions of themselves has brought this pair of teammates together.
Building a strong bond off the floor has paid dividends to their in-game play. Not only have they begun to operate better in the two-man game, but Embiid is regularly pushing Maxey to be more aggressive as a scorer.
Embiid's growth as a leader is something that is brought up regularly this season, and instances like this are a prime example. Not only has the Sixers star taken his game to new heights, but helped frame a strong culture within the team as well. This is the kind of stuff that separates superstars from franchise cornerstones.
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