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This season, Tyrese Maxey has been one of the brightest storylines for the Philadelphia 76ers. The second-year guard was thrust into a full-time starting role and did more than hold his own. Maxey is currently fresh off going toe-to-toe with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant and coming away victorious. That’s an impressive feat for someone who didn’t see consistent playing time as a rookie.
Heading into the season, the path was paved for Maxey to assume the backup point guard role for the Sixers. Due to off-the-court circumstances (*cough* Ben Simmons *cough*), that quickly changed. Doc Rivers found himself with a gaping hole in his starting lineup and chose the former first-round pick as the solution.
Despite never being a true point guard, Maxey has developed almost on the fly. Having two former NBA point guards in his ear on a nightly basis has certainly played a role in this rapid growth. So far this season, Maxey is averaging 4.8 assists per game, more than double his average as a rookie.
While this increased facilitation is noteworthy for Maxey, there is another key area of his game that has taken a massive step forward.
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Along with his added responsibilities as a playmaker, Maxey is still putting his high-level scoring abilities on full display. Finding the balance between scorer and facilitator has been a challenge at times, but the 21-year-old Sixers guard appears to be finding his footing.
Maxey is always a threat to score with his quickness but added a new element to his offensive arsenal this season. After never being a real threat from beyond the arc, he is now shooting a stellar 40.4% on the year.
A lackluster 3-point shot is one reason why Maxey slipped down to pick No. 21 on draft night in 2020. In his lone season at Kentucky, he shot just 29.2% from deep with a form that was going to need some adjusting. Looking at his film now, you would never guess Maxey needed help with his jumper.
It didn’t take long for Maxey to build a reputation as a gym rat, as he is constantly working to improve his game. This dedication to his craft has paid huge dividends when it comes to his outside shot. Not only did he improve his form, but his effectiveness as well.
Maxey’s 3-point percentage has jumped 10 percentage points between this season and last, all while doubling his attempts per game. What’s most impressive about these numbers is the efficiency on any kind of shot. He is shooting 41.5% on catch-and-shoot attempts and 39.7% on pull-ups.
It goes without saying how beneficial this development is for Maxey. Posing a threat from deep completely changes how defenses have to guard him. Not to mention it makes him more lethal in the pick-and-roll as well.
With defenses having to guard him out on the 3-point line, it allows Maxey to beat defenders with his quickness. This should also create opportunities for him to get downhill and make plays at the rim as a scorer or passer.
There are multiple factors attributed to Maxey’s near-meteoric leap in Year 2, but his growth as a 3-point shooter is among the most important. The Sixers youngster’s new-and-improved jump shot should open the floor for him to showcase other areas of his game as he continues to develop.