Tyrese Maxey has been electric this season-there’s no denying that. The 23-year-old guard has taken a massive leap, blossoming into a dynamic scorer and playmaker who’s earned his second All-Star nod.
He’s averaging 29.9 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 boards, and 2.1 steals per game. Those are star numbers by any measure.
But despite Maxey’s rise, the Philadelphia 76ers still live and die by one man: Joel Embiid.
For all the talk about Maxey potentially becoming the new face of the franchise, the Sixers’ performance without Embiid tells a different story. Simply put, when the reigning MVP isn’t on the floor, Philly doesn’t look like a contender-they barely look competitive.
Let’s rewind to last season. Embiid played just 19 games in the 2024-25 campaign, and the Sixers managed only 24 wins in total.
That’s not a coincidence. Without their seven-foot anchor, the team lacked direction, creativity, and any real bite.
Offensively, they were stagnant. Defensively, they were vulnerable.
The absence of Embiid didn’t just hurt-it exposed how reliant this team still is on his presence.
This season was supposed to be a turning point. Maxey was handed the keys to the offense, while Embiid focused on getting healthy and staying on the court.
And to Maxey’s credit, he’s delivered individually. But the team’s success hasn’t followed suit when Embiid sits.
Despite Maxey’s career-best numbers, the Sixers continue to struggle without their big man in the lineup.
Embiid’s return to form has been one of the more underrated storylines of the season. He’s already surpassed last year’s games played total and is producing at an elite level-25.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on 48.6% shooting.
That’s not just good; that’s dominant. But the issue remains: Embiid still can’t consistently play back-to-backs, and when he’s out, the Sixers just aren’t the same.
Take January, for example. Philadelphia went 7-4 in games Embiid played.
In the three games he missed? They went 0-3-including a lopsided 93-130 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
That’s not just a bad loss-it’s a red flag.
The Sixers are trying to thread a difficult needle: developing Maxey into a franchise cornerstone while still depending heavily on Embiid to anchor both ends of the floor. And right now, the numbers are clear-this team still needs Joel Embiid to win. Maxey might be the future, but Embiid remains the present.
Philadelphia fans know what it looks like when Embiid is off the floor. The offense loses its identity, the defense softens, and the team’s competitive edge dulls.
Maxey’s rise is exciting, and it gives the franchise real hope for the long term. But for the Sixers to make a serious run this season, it’s still all about Embiid.
The Process isn’t over-not yet. As long as Joel Embiid is suiting up, he remains the heartbeat of this team. And if Philly wants to be playing deep into the spring, they’ll need him healthy, active, and leading the charge.