It's not a common sight to see a young player display a lot of potential so early in his career. For the select few, like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, it came naturally as their respective teams gave them sufficient minutes on the floor. For others like Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. they have to overcome a lot of adversities to prove that they can be the number one options for their squad. But for Tyrese Maxey, that road is harder than these established veterans. Fortunately, things are looking up for the Philadelphia 76ers' guard these past few months.
With an impressive sophomore campaign boosted by the addition of James Harden to Philly, Maxey's ceiling has suddenly grown higher. We take a look at several reasons why his rookie cards can be a great option to consider.
Simmons' absence and Harden's arrival
There's no denying that the drama revolving around Ben Simmons was one they could have done without. With four years left on his contract, the All-Star point forward chose to sit out after the 76ers refused to trade him during the offseason. But while Philly fans thought that his absence can crater their hopes of making a deep playoff run, Maxey stepped up and filled the void Simmons left behind.
In the 52 games he played, 51 of which as a starter, Maxey notched 17.1 points by hitting 47% of his field goals, 39% from beyond the arc, and 87% from the free throw line. The sophomore also added 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 35.5 minutes per contest.
While those numbers looked good on paper, it was Maxey's performance during a match against the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this year that caught everyone's attention. In that game, the 76ers' guard posted 33 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 blocks, and a single steal in 42:30 minutes on the floor. Ultimately, Maxey's all-around game, along with Tobias Harris adding 31 points, would lead the 76ers to secure a 122-199 against the Grizzlies in a contest that Joel Embiid didn't play in.
Sure, those numbers look impressive, especially when compared to his first year in the NBA. As great as they were, Maxey would go on to play on another level once Harden suited up for the 76ers. In the four games Maxey has played with since The Beard arrived, he has been averaging 24 points on 58% shooting from the field, 65% from deep, and 77% from the free throw line. He's also getting an average of 4.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals during that stretch.
Thanks to the arrival of Harden, Maxey has thrived with all the space and dishes he gets from the former MVP. As compared to the 76ers with Simmons in it, their offense has opened up and has been taken to another level. With Harden as Maxey's backcourt partner, the ceiling of his game has been taken up a notch, which bodes well for his rookie cards in the market.
Maxey's ascension as the 76ers' third star
Without a doubt, the 76ers are going to run the rest of the season with Embiid and Harden in the driver's seat. Their respective set of skills compliment each other and help elevate Philadelphia's chances of winning the title. But as great as these two can be, there's still more than enough room on the table for Maxey to thrive in.
As evidenced by his stellar numbers this season and the games he played with Harden, Maxey can definitely grow to be the 76ers' third star. In a role that once belonged to Tobias Harris, it's safe to say that the sophomore has a higher ceiling than Philadelphia's starting forward.
To put things in context, Harris is currently averaging 18.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 35.2 minutes per game. Since Harden arrived and Maxey's numbers blossomed during those four games, the power forward's stats have dropped to 14.3 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and a single steal.
While it's still too early to tell, the signs are already there. If Maxey continues this streak of impressive games well into the postseason, collectors will see the birth of a third star in Philadelphia, along with Embiid and Harden.
The state of Tyrese Maxey rookie cards
In a draft class dominated by LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards cards, it's refreshing to see another name stand out in the market.
In a three-month graph by Card Ladder, Maxey's base Prizm Silver rookie card at $40 and reached a short-term low of $9. Right around the trade deadline, that value peaked at $82 and has now settled at $75. That's an 86.7% increase from where it started late last year.
And this is just for the ungraded card. It's safe to say that Maxey's gem-mint rookie card slabs can potentially go for higher prices. As PSA and other grading companies continue to clear their backlog, the number of graded Tyrese Maxey rookie cards will show up in the market.
By then, a clear outlook on his slabbed stocks will be determined. Even then, seeing how well his raw Prizm Silvers have been performing is still a very welcome development.
The verdict on Tyrese Maxey rookie cards
It's pretty clear that the addition of Harden to the 76ers has unlocked Embiid. In a way, Maxey is taking a leap with the All-Star guard as his backcourt partner.
This is a very exciting development as Philadelphia's chances of at least making the Conference Finals is stronger than ever. If they reach the NBA Finals and win the whole thing, expect Maxey's rookie cards to blow up in the market.
That potential development can be considered as Maxey's absolute ceiling in the card market for this season. The safer projection would have his usage and numbers shoot up with Harden as Philadelphia's primary ball handler. As it stands, this has resulted in more space and open looks for the sophomore guard. If this formula works, Maxey would have a strong chance to become the third star, along with the Beard and Embiid.
With these reasons in mind, the most prudent thing for collectors to do is to hunt those Tyrese Maxey cards at their lowest. It's best to stay away from those base cards and go for the short-printed or numbered parallels to help ensure their value for the long term. In any case, going for Maxey's rookie stock is a good move to make as the playoffs approach.
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