Kyle Lowry may be winding down his NBA journey, but don’t mistake that for irrelevance - not when you’ve got Tyrese Maxey in your corner.
Now in his third season with the 76ers, Lowry isn’t logging the same minutes he once did, but he’s still very much part of the heartbeat in Philly. And while the Sixers currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, Lowry isn’t just hoping for one last playoff run - he’s expecting it, thanks to a promise from the team’s rising star.
That star? Tyrese Maxey, who’s been nothing short of electric this season.
Through 49 games, Maxey is averaging 28.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.1 rebounds - numbers that have kept him in the MVP conversation, even if he’s slipped from fifth to tenth in the latest rankings. But forget the ladder for a second.
What Maxey’s doing on the floor - night in and night out - is keeping the Sixers competitive, and more importantly, keeping Lowry’s playoff hopes alive.
According to Lowry, this belief isn’t just about numbers or standings. It’s personal.
“From last year, he told me, ‘Kyle, don’t worry about it. We won’t miss the playoffs, and I got you in your last season, or whatever it is - you will be in the playoffs no matter what,’” Lowry shared recently. “So I was like, ‘Alright, you got it.’”
That’s more than just a teammate talking - that’s a young leader stepping up for a veteran who’s given everything to the game.
Lowry’s legacy is secure. He’s a six-time All-Star, an NBA champion, and, to many, the greatest Toronto Raptor of all time.
That love was on full display just last month, when the Sixers visited Toronto and Lowry checked in for a brief cameo - just 1:57 of game time - in a 115-102 win. The ovation he received was deafening.
It wasn’t about the box score that night. It was about everything he meant to that city, that franchise, and that fan base.
In a poetic twist, it was Maxey who gave up his spot on the floor so Lowry could take it. And the moment clearly hit home.
“He deserved every bit of it,” Maxey said afterward. “I told him I was about to start crying.”
That’s the kind of respect Lowry commands - not just from fans, but from the next generation of stars who grew up watching him grind, lead, and win.
Now, at 39, Lowry’s not chasing stats. He’s chasing one more shot at the postseason. And Maxey, who’s shouldering the load as Philly’s offensive engine, has made it clear: he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure Lowry gets there.
Will it happen? That’s still up in the air.
The East is crowded, and the Sixers have work to do. But if Maxey keeps playing at this level - and if the team can hold strong - that playoff promise might just be kept.
And if it is, you better believe it’ll mean more than just another postseason berth. It’ll be a fitting tribute to one of the game’s most respected veterans, delivered by a rising star who’s already proving he knows what leadership looks like.