Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey recently took a fun detour from the court to appear on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. In a lively segment, Maxey was tasked with assembling an Avengers-style NBA lineup, and his picks were both entertaining and insightful.
First up, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Maxey found himself torn between two choices: himself and Donovan Mitchell.
“Spider-Man would either be me or Donovan Mitchell,” he said. Maxey’s love for Spider-Man runs deep, as he sees a bit of himself in the web-slinger.
“He’s a kid, goes to high school, lives a normal life, but then fights crime at night. He’s a genuine person, and we appreciate him for that.
That’s kind of like my persona,” Maxey explained.
With Mitchell’s nickname being “Spida,” it’s easy to see why he’s a strong contender for the role. Moving on to Iron Man, Maxey selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“I think it would be Shai,” he noted, citing Gilgeous-Alexander’s style and social media presence as reasons. “He’s hilarious with his captions on Instagram,” Maxey added.
While Gilgeous-Alexander might not be the first name that springs to mind as Iron Man, Maxey’s reasoning adds a fresh perspective. When it came to the Hulk, Maxey’s choice was less surprising.
“I think the Hulk should be Isaiah Stewart,” he said, referencing Stewart’s infamous attempt to charge at LeBron James back in 2021. “There’s no stopping him when he’s angry,” Maxey pointed out.
Stewart, known as the Pistons’ enforcer, has a reputation for not backing down, recently being involved in a brawl against the Charlotte Hornets. As for Captain America, Maxey couldn’t look past LeBron James.
“Captain America will probably have to be LeBron James,” he said, highlighting James’ leadership, especially during the Olympics. Despite being 41, James continues to be a guiding force in the NBA.
Finally, for the mighty Thor, Maxey chose Luka Doncic. “Luka Doncic, because they call him Luka Magic for a reason,” Maxey stated. Doncic’s ability to perform seemingly magical feats on the court, like scoring 100 points in a span of 24 hours, makes him a fitting choice.
Maxey’s Avengers lineup not only showcases his knowledge of the game but also his appreciation for his peers’ unique talents and personalities.