Jaylen Brown didn’t just praise Tyrese Maxey after Philadelphia’s latest win. He put the 76ers’ hierarchy right out in the open.
“Maxey’s been leading the way, 100%. He’s been here, this is his team,” Brown said.
“Him and Joel have been here for a while, so the mindset has been to complement those guys. I’m finding my footing, but Maxey’s been leading the way for sure.”
That kind of statement matters on a roster that already has plenty of big names. Brown is a former NBA champion and Finals MVP.
LeBron James is a four-time champion. Joel Embiid is a former MVP.
But Brown made it clear that the guard who has become the heartbeat of the group is Maxey.
The 76ers are off to a 7-1 start after Monday’s 126-107 win over Chicago, their fourth straight victory. Maxey delivered 26 points and 11 assists, and 15 of those points came in the fourth quarter. Brown chipped in 25 points and 11 rebounds, and all five Philadelphia starters finished in double figures.
Maxey’s performance was another reminder of how often he has been the one to settle things down when the game tightens. He scored late, then kept the offense moving with 11 assists, a sign that he can both finish possessions and organize them for teammates who are used to having the ball in their hands.
Brown’s comments also carried a different kind of message: he is not trying to force his way to the front of the line. He acknowledged that Maxey and Embiid have been the foundation in Philadelphia and said his role is to fit around them.
For a team loaded with established talent, that matters. Brown could have made this a debate about status. Instead, he made it about fit.
The 76ers are still early in the season, and Brown admitted as much when he said he is “finding my footing.” But the results so far have been strong, and the message from Brown suggests a group that is at least heading in the same direction. If Maxey keeps steering the offense and Brown keeps embracing the supporting role he described, Philadelphia may have the kind of balance its star-studded roster needs.
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Former Sixers Guard Quickly Found His Next Chance After Philly Moved On
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Terry entered the league as a former first-round pick, and this latest deal gives him another chance to carve out a role on a team that needs depth right now. Oklahoma City has been willing to mine every available option while its roster is stretched thin, and Terrys path from Philly to the Thunder is another reminder of how quickly opportunity can change in this league. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Already Feels Like A Different Fit With The Sixers
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Simmons also framed the move as one that could give James a better path back to the NBA Finals, pointing to the way his mood and role acceptance have reportedly improved. For the Sixers, the larger issue is whether the combination of talent, coaching and roster management can keep that kind of alignment intact long enough to matter when the games tighten up. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Nurse Just Made The 76ers Frontcourt Wait Even Harder
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Nick Nurse said Barlow is seeing a specialist and has only had limited court time so far, with a re-evaluation expected soon. For a Philadelphia frontcourt already waiting on more clarity, the bigger concern is the uncertainty around when Barlow can realistically rejoin the mix, since the recovery timeline remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]