Five years ago today, Tyrese Maxey made his NBA debut and stole the show in a game against the Denver Nuggets. At 20 years old, with only 150 minutes of experience under his belt, Maxey was thrust into the starting lineup alongside Danny Green and Dwight Howard due to injuries to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. In an unusual rotation that saw seven players take the court for the first time in their careers, Maxey proved to be the game-changer, scoring 39 points on 18-of-33 shooting.
The team's coach at the time, Doc Rivers, had high hopes for the young guard, saying "I think you can get 40 tonight." Maxey took it as a challenge and delivered. The Nuggets were one of the best teams in the league that season, but the Sixers' makeshift lineup held their own, with Maxey leading the charge.
For Tony Bradley, one half of the Sixers' available bench that day, the game remains etched in his memory. "I don't [remember] the outcome of the game," he said. "But I know it wasn't a blowout." The team's oddities – two players on the bench, no fans in the crowd – are still talked about today.
For Maxey, the game was just one part of his journey to becoming an NBA superstar. Five years later, he has become the face of the franchise and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league. His growth from a rookie with a wide smile to a leader and face of the franchise is nothing short of remarkable.
Maxey credits Joel Embiid, who has been a vocal supporter of his career, for believing in him early on. "I think Jo saw it pretty early," said Rivers. "We believed in him before he started making shots." Maxey's development into an elite three-point shooter and scoring machine is well-documented.
For Green, who played alongside Maxey for the first two years of his career, there was never a doubt that the young guard had the potential to become a superstar. "I can believe it," he said. "He just needed the opportunity." Maxey's leadership style is built on personal relationships and a positive attitude, which has helped him command respect from his teammates.
Despite his success, Maxey still remembers the struggles of his rookie season, including constant lineup changes and tough coaching. However, he credits those experiences for teaching him to appreciate the little things about the game and to respect his role in the team's hierarchy.
Today, Maxey is a five-year NBA veteran with a contract worth over $200 million. He has become known for his incredible scoring ability, his work ethic, and his leadership on and off the court. As he continues to evolve into one of the best players in the league, it's clear that Maxey will always be remembered as the kid who made a game-winning shot against the Nuggets five years ago.
The team's coach at the time, Doc Rivers, had high hopes for the young guard, saying "I think you can get 40 tonight." Maxey took it as a challenge and delivered. The Nuggets were one of the best teams in the league that season, but the Sixers' makeshift lineup held their own, with Maxey leading the charge.
For Tony Bradley, one half of the Sixers' available bench that day, the game remains etched in his memory. "I don't [remember] the outcome of the game," he said. "But I know it wasn't a blowout." The team's oddities – two players on the bench, no fans in the crowd – are still talked about today.
For Maxey, the game was just one part of his journey to becoming an NBA superstar. Five years later, he has become the face of the franchise and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league. His growth from a rookie with a wide smile to a leader and face of the franchise is nothing short of remarkable.
Maxey credits Joel Embiid, who has been a vocal supporter of his career, for believing in him early on. "I think Jo saw it pretty early," said Rivers. "We believed in him before he started making shots." Maxey's development into an elite three-point shooter and scoring machine is well-documented.
For Green, who played alongside Maxey for the first two years of his career, there was never a doubt that the young guard had the potential to become a superstar. "I can believe it," he said. "He just needed the opportunity." Maxey's leadership style is built on personal relationships and a positive attitude, which has helped him command respect from his teammates.
Despite his success, Maxey still remembers the struggles of his rookie season, including constant lineup changes and tough coaching. However, he credits those experiences for teaching him to appreciate the little things about the game and to respect his role in the team's hierarchy.
Today, Maxey is a five-year NBA veteran with a contract worth over $200 million. He has become known for his incredible scoring ability, his work ethic, and his leadership on and off the court. As he continues to evolve into one of the best players in the league, it's clear that Maxey will always be remembered as the kid who made a game-winning shot against the Nuggets five years ago.
i wasnt around back then but thats wild to think about how far he's come now 
his leadership style is so inspiring too, it shows you dont have to be a superstar to make an impact on your team. also 200 million contract? that's insane! 
I mean, five years after that crazy debut, Tyrese Maxey is still living up to the hype, but for me, it feels like he's become more of a 'system' player than a true superstar 
. Don't get me wrong, his stats are insane and he's still putting in all the work, but I'm not sure if he'd thrive without Joel Embiid on the same team 
. Plus, have you noticed how all these 'superstars' now are being hyped up from day one? Like, what happened to earning it over time? 
This Tyrese Maxey story is wild! I mean, can you believe how quickly he went from being a 20-year-old rookie to becoming one of the best players in the league? His growth and leadership are truly inspiring. It's awesome that he has Joel Embiid to thank for believing in him early on 
. And it's great to see his teammates like Danny Green giving him props for his hard work and dedication 
. The fact that he still remembers the struggles of his rookie season is a testament to how far he's come. He's definitely one player who embodies the "work ethic" mentality 
I mean, he's playing with like 5 other rookies at a time lol. And then he just starts dropping points like they're nothing. anyway, it's so cool to see him grow into the player we know today. like, from rookie to superstar is no joke 
. btw, has anyone seen that new video game that's coming out? 
. He's become an NBA superstar and the face of the franchise 
. I love how he credits Joel Embiid for believing in him early on 
.
!
i mean, who else can say they made a game-winning shot against denver nuggets at 20 years old? maxey's growth is insane and his leadership style is so inspiring, always keeping it positive and building relationships with teammates 
It's crazy to think he was once considered one of seven players on the court for their first time ever, and now he's a superstar! 
! 5 years ago he was just a rookie making his debut and stealing the show in that one game against Denver Nuggets 
. I mean, Joel Embiid believing in him early on definitely made a difference 
His growth is really inspiring, especially considering all the ups and downs he went through as a rookie. 
back in 2020! He came out of nowhere and stole the show 
. I mean, can you believe he made 39 points on 18-of-33 shooting? 
and one of the best players in the league 
. And let me tell you, I've been following his journey for years 
. He's a true role model on and off the court 
, and I'm so glad I got to witness his rise to stardom 
like how did this not end in disaster? and btw, 150 minutes of experience under his belt is basically nothing. can't really blame embiid for being skeptical about him back then... but seriously, it's wild that maxey turned out to be one of the best players in the league. i guess sometimes all you need is a little bit of faith from your coach 
. His leadership style is all about positivity and personal relationships – that's what sets him apart from other players 
but at the same time, it's also kinda sad that he had to go through all that craziness in his first year out of the gate 
but seriously, Maxey's growth into an elite player is no joke 
. anyway, it's always rad to see players who have come through the ranks and become real MVPs 
. The kid delivered that 39 pt performance and it's crazy to think about how far he's come since then 
. That shows the kind of impact a mentor can have on someone's career. And Danny Green was always confident in Maxey too 
.
. And you know what's even crazier? The team still has some old injuries as a excuse for not getting better 
, and he somehow managed to make it work... kinda 
. From what I've seen, his growth has been pretty smooth, but let's be real, it's not like he just waltzed in there and became a superstar overnight