It’s pretty hard to be a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers last season — before the arrival of Tyrese Maxey. The fit between Joel Embiid and Al Horford was horrible, spacing was non-existent, and injuries plagued the roster for the better part of the year. All of these factors worked against the 76ers’ favor and handed them a first-round sweep, courtesy of the Boston Celtics.

The aftermath wasn’t pleasant either. Brett Brown was sacked and rumors were circling around that either Embiid or Ben Simmons will be traded during the offseason. Fortunately, two saviors arrived to turn things around for the franchise – Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey.

What followed was a dizzying series of events that ultimately made the 76ers a better team than what there were last season. Al Horford was shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a package headlined by Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson. Sharpshooter Seth Curry came over from Dallas in exchange for Josh Richardson while Dwight Howard was signed to back Embiid up at the center position.

Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky Wildcats, Sixers
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Amidst all the trades and free-agent signings, Philadelphia obtained combo guard Tyrese Maxey from the University of Kentucky with the 21st pick. This development may have gone below the radar of most fans but it doesn’t mean there isn’t any potential with this player. In fact, card collectors should pay attention to this rookie as early as now and learn why he can be a good investment in the future.

Tyrese Maxey has the potential to be an excellent offensive player

Maxey’s time playing for Kentucky displayed what he can do on offense. Now that he’s playing in the NBA, he gets to show that side of him as part of the 76ers’ bench.

This season alone, Maxey is averaging 9.6 points, placing him ninth among all rookies. He’s also dishing 2.1 dimes and grabbing 2.5 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per contest.

While those numbers may not jump off the books, his career game against the Denver Nuggets displayed otherwise. In that game, the rookie started for Philadelphia and drained 39 points while getting seven rebounds, two steals, and six assists. This feat was the most points scored by a rookie in his first start since 1970.

Although the 76ers lost to the Nuggets, Maxey’s potential on offense put the whole league on notice. It can also be a sign of things to come for this rookie and his value in the card market.

Tyrese Maxey has a huge defensive upside

While offense captures the attention of everyone, defense helps define how quickly a player will rise to superstardom. Maxey has the potential to become a stellar two-way player in the pros.

The 21st pick from the 2020 Draft possesses a 6”3’ body with a 6’8” wingspan and a strong frame. The rookie out of Kentucky is also quick on his feet and boasts a good feel of the game. When you put these qualities together, you end up with a good defensive player down the line.

Sixers, Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey
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Maxey can use these physical tools and the experience he’s going to gain this year to improve defensively. If things go according to plan, he can make a name for himself by ferociously defending opposing guards. And with the guidance of incredible defensive players like Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, card fans can expect Maxey to develop in that aspect of the game.

The Philadelphia 76ers are playing like champions

As of this writing, the 76ers are on top of the Eastern Conference with a 12-5 record, beating the favorites Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Joel Embiid is currently playing like an MVP and is in the conversation for the said award. Moreover, Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey have assembled a roster that can make a deep run towards the championship when the postseason starts.

Sixers, Dwight Howard, Tyrese Maxey

This can only mean good things for fans of the Philadelphia 76ers and their main rookie this year, Tyrese Maxey. At some point during the regular season and the playoffs, he’ll be called upon to play significant minutes. These are the moments when Maxey will shine and show his worth for Philadelphia. Whether it’s playing off-ball and getting buckets or providing quality stops on the other end of the floor, this rookie will surely have his time in the spotlight soon enough.

If Maxey gets to play consistent minutes and increases his numbers, fans will surely take notice. This will result in a potential-jump in the prices of Tyrese Maxey rookie cards in the near future Better plan your purchases ahead so you won’t be left behind when his stock rises up.