The Philadelphia 76ers are in a new era-and while the jerseys and some of the names remain the same, the heartbeat of the franchise has shifted. Tyrese Maxey isn’t just a rising star anymore.
He’s the guy in Philly. And if not for a well-timed phone call from Rich Paul back in 2020, the Sixers might’ve missed out on the player who’s now the face of their franchise.
Let’s rewind to the 2020 NBA Draft. The Sixers held the 21st pick, and according to Paul-founder of Klutch Sports and Maxey’s agent-they were dangerously close to moving it. On a recent podcast with Max Kellerman, Paul revealed that Philly was on the verge of trading the pick before he stepped in.
“Philly was going to trade that pick,” Paul said. “And I called and told Elton Brand-he’ll tell you-I said, ‘Elton, I’m telling you right now, if this guy gets to you, you better take him. Because he should have been gone.’”
That guy, of course, was Tyrese Maxey.
It’s not often that an agent’s call changes the trajectory of a franchise, but in this case, Paul’s insistence may have done just that. Maxey fell to 21st, well outside the lottery, but he’s since emerged as one of the best players in his draft class-and arguably one of the best young guards in the league, period.
Fast forward to today, and Maxey isn’t just a complementary piece. He’s running the show.
The Sixers still have Joel Embiid and Paul George on the roster, and rookie VJ Edgecombe is making waves, but this is Maxey’s team now. He’s grown into an MVP-caliber player in his sixth season, and he’s doing it with a blend of speed, skill, and leadership that Philly hasn’t seen in quite some time.
It’s hard to overstate just how different the Sixers’ outlook would be without Maxey. With their veteran stars aging and the window for contention narrowing, Maxey has become the bridge between eras-the player who keeps the team relevant now and gives them a future to believe in.
And to think, it almost didn’t happen.
Whether you credit Paul’s insight, his belief in Maxey, or just the timing of it all, the fact remains: the Sixers were this close to letting Maxey slip through their fingers. Instead, they got a franchise cornerstone.
Rich Paul won’t get a banner in the rafters for that phone call, but in Philly lore, that moment might be worth more than we realize.