Tyrese Maxey’s Meteoric Rise: How the 76ers Guard Became the NBA’s Hottest Story Overnight

Tyrese Maxey may have removed the “rising” label this week—he’s performing like a fully-fledged NBA star. The 24-year-old guard erupted for 43 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in Philadelphia’s 118-107 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night, lifting the 76ers to a 3-0 start for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The explosion capped a scorching opening week in which Maxey is averaging 37.3 points on 54 percent shooting while shouldering primary-creator duties in Joel Embiid’s continued injury absence. Monday’s performance was vintage downhill Maxey: blurring coast-to-coast pushes, feathery floaters and timely pull-up threes that flattened Orlando’s coverage. His 17 fourth-quarter points shut the door after the Magic trimmed a 21-point deficit to six. Maxey’s surge has been complemented by rookie wing VJ Edgecombe, who contributed 22 points, and veteran scorer Kelly Oubre Jr., whose 17-point spark kept Philadelphia afloat during second-unit minutes. But the new focal point is Maxey’s command of tempo. “I’m trying to be the head of the snake,” he said post-game. “Coach wants the ball in my hands, and my teammates trust me to make the right play.” Trust has been earned. Through three games the Sixers boast the league’s No. 1 offense (130.8 points per 100 possessions) with Maxey on the floor, according to NBA advanced stats, and have outscored opponents by 52 points in his 108 minutes. His offseason emphasis on tighter handle and pocket passing is evident—he has 24 assists to just four turnovers. The timing couldn’t be better for Philadelphia. After a quiet summer, front-office hopes of re-establishing a title window hinge on internal growth around the Embiid–Paul George–Maxey trio. Early signs suggest Maxey is ready to be option 1B rather than a mere third star. “He’s reading the game two steps quicker,” head coach Nick Nurse noted. “If teams go under, he’s rising up; if they blitz, he’s splitting or finding the roller. That processing speed has jumped.” Maxey’s ascendance also eases Embiid’s workload when the MVP returns from his right knee soreness, an ailment the club insists is precautionary. Philadelphia went just 7-8 in the 15 games the trio shared last year, but internal analytics showed a +7.2 net rating in those minutes. If Maxey maintains anything close to his present production, the Sixers project as an Eastern Conference heavyweight. Next up is a Wednesday clash with the Atlanta Hawks, whose drop coverage historically invites Maxey’s mid-range pull-ups. Another marquee outing could catapult him into the early MVP conversation—a storyline almost unthinkable 12 months ago, when his role fluctuated amid James Harden trade rumors. For now, Philadelphia is relishing the nightly fireworks. Fans serenaded Maxey with “M-V-P” chants as he checked out with 17 seconds left, a coronation normally reserved for Embiid. If the early trend holds, the Wells Fargo Center may need to learn a second anthem.