Tyrese Maxey Is Carrying the Load - And Feeling It
PHILADELPHIA - Tyrese Maxey has been the engine keeping the Sixers moving through a turbulent stretch of the season, but even engines need a break. With Joel Embiid and Paul George still sidelined, Maxey hasn’t just been the team’s leading scorer - he’s been their heartbeat, their constant. And the toll is starting to show.
Right now, Maxey leads the league in minutes per game at 39.5, and over the last four outings, the wear and tear has started to creep into his game. He logged 40 minutes in Monday’s win over the Pacers, then followed that up with a 43-minute night in Tuesday’s loss to the Suns. Add in 31 and 39-minute performances against Cleveland on Jan. 14 and 16, and that’s a heavy workload by any standard - especially for a guard tasked with initiating the offense and carrying the scoring burden.
And the numbers reflect it. Over those four games, Maxey’s averaging 21.3 points on just 37.5% shooting from the field and 25% from three - a noticeable dip from his season averages of 30.0 points on 46.9% shooting and nearly 40% from deep. On Tuesday against Phoenix, he went 7-for-25 from the floor, as the Suns ratcheted up the physicality and dared him to beat them through contact and fatigue.
To his credit, Maxey didn’t make excuses.
“I don’t think it’s physicality,” he said postgame. “I think it’s just more me.
Just, I felt a little tired. I don’t know, but it’ll be alright.
I’ll be fine.”
That’s the reality when you’re the top name on every scouting report. Opponents are throwing their best defenders at him, blitzing pick-and-rolls, bumping him off his spots - and without Embiid and George to draw attention, Maxey’s facing a stacked deck every night. Still, the sixth-year guard out of Kentucky continues to embrace the challenge.
“I don’t think it’s about being number one,” Maxey said. “It’s just trying to be out there every night for my team.
That’s just who I am. That’s who I’ve always been - fighting through whatever is going on and just keep playing.”
The Sixers got contributions from Kelly Oubre Jr. and rookie VJ Edgecombe, managing to put up 110 points against Phoenix. But a few more buckets from Maxey could’ve swung the game. And he knows it.
“I was just talking to Kyle [Lowry], like, ‘Man, I was getting in the paint, creating shots for us,’” Maxey said. “But in games like this, I know we need that scoring punch.
Sometimes it comes late, sometimes it comes early, but I know there’s going to be a time when we need it. I just couldn’t make certain shots.
I got easy - like, easy, easy, easy looks tonight. Floaters, wide open threes, layups - it’s just tough.
Ball didn’t bounce my way tonight. It’s alright.”
That’s the mindset of a player who understands the long haul. Maxey’s not panicking - and neither are the Sixers.
They’ve leaned on him all season, and he’s delivered more often than not. But with 40 games still left on the calendar, pacing matters.
The All-Star starter knows he can’t afford to burn out now.
“Just bounce back,” he said. “I’ll shake back.
I mean, it’s what I do. That’s what I’m here for.
I’ll be just fine. Take a day off tomorrow, get some treatment.
I’ll be back at it - whatever day it is. I don’t even know what day.”
That next day is Thursday, when the Sixers take on the Houston Rockets. Whether Embiid or George is ready to return remains to be seen.
But one thing’s certain: Maxey will be ready to go. Tired legs or not, he’s not backing down - and that’s exactly the kind of fight Philly needs right now.