There's no doubt that Tyrese Maxey has been a game-changer for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. His energy and tenacity to win have directly contributed to the Sixers' overarching success.
Maxey continues to prove his worth deep into the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Most recently, the 21-year-old had a remarkable second half in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat. He put up 21 points, six assists, and two rebounds in the win and went five for six from deep.
However, Maxey's most impressive play of the night can't be found on the stats sheet. With five minutes to play, James Harden lost possession of the ball, resulting in a lead pass up the court to Victor Oladipo. But, Maxey wasn't having any of that.
Tyrese Maxey is a BLUR 🔔 pic.twitter.com/sEbQDBt6sm
— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2022
So, what was Maxey thinking at the time? How did such a young player pull off a gravity-defying play in the NBA Playoffs?
He explained his thought process following the Sixers' Game 3 win.
Article Continues Below"I saw it was going to be a foot race, and I knew I wasn't going to lose in a foot race"@TyreseMaxey on his speedy save in Game 3. pic.twitter.com/gdlSGt1Mfr
— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2022
“I just tried to get back and get back as fast as possible,” Maxey said. “When he threw it, I saw it was going to be a foot race. And, I knew I wasn't going to lose in the foot race. The only thing I had to figure out was how I was going to keep it in bounds and keep it in play.”
His confidence and heart are exactly what set Maxey apart from other players his age. He had one goal: “Trying to win…that's really it.”
Maxey and the Sixers will attempt to tie the series with Game 4 Sunday night in Philadelphia.