Within the 2020 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers chosen Tyrese Maxey with their twenty first decide. In hindsight, NBA scouts had underestimated his expertise stage significantly. Nevertheless, coming to the 76ers has panned out magnificently for the younger guard as he has repeatedly credited the 76ers franchise and their centerpiece, Joel Embiid for his speedy development within the league, which even paved the way in which for an All-Star look and the Most Improved Participant award this yr.
Fairly deservedly so, the 76ers just lately rewarded him with a five-year, $204 million contract extension. Throughout a ceremony organized by the franchise to have fun their star guard’s extension, Maxey gave an emotional tribute to Embiid for trusting in him earlier than anybody else did.
He turned nostalgic throughout his speech, recalling an incident when the 76ers Heart eased his nerves on the very starting of his NBA journey. To showcase his bonhomie towards the longer term star, Embiid gifted Maxey a PlayStation, a gesture that touched the rookie’s coronary heart and nonetheless stays deeply etched to this present day.
Whereas addressing Joel Embiid, who attended the congratulatory extension ceremony, Maxey mentioned,
“Huge fella, thanks for coming man, I actually recognize that. You have been the primary particular person to consider in me, I hold telling everyone that. Simply strolling on to the aircraft, you telling me to sit down there, you bringing me a PlayStation meant the world to me, hope I’m not gonna allow you to down.”
“Huge fella… You have been the primary particular person to actually consider in me… Simply strolling onto the aircraft, you telling me to sit down there, you bringing me a PlayStation… That meant the world to me… I hope I’m not going to allow you to down.”
~ An emotional Tyrese Maxey to Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/MItrxILRGx
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) July 8, 2024
These phrases exude that Embiid is not only a really perfect teammate, however a terrific mentor to the 23-year-old. He enabled Maxey’s development by making him really feel part of his journey and acknowledging him at each flip. Due to this fact, the 76ers guard was overcome with feelings as he confirmed his appreciation to Embiid.
It additionally reveals that the 76ers displayed religion in the fitting athlete throughout the 2020 NBA draft when Maxey surprisingly fell out of the lottery regardless of being projected to be picked across the 10-14th mark. In the long term, the choice helped them purchase their second-most dependable scorer, who saved the workforce alive throughout the first-round sequence in opposition to the Knicks within the 2024 playoffs.
The rise of Maxey might have additionally performed a job in Embiid’s willingness to run it again with the 76ers. In the course of the 2023 offseason, he hinted at leaving the 76ers if issues didn’t pan out nicely throughout the 2023-24 season. Nevertheless, just lately, he has sounded hopeful about his squad’s title probabilities for the 2024-25 season.
Now that Paul George has joined them, Embiid has the required depth to lastly make it to the Japanese Convention Finals for the primary time in his decade-plus profession. Maxey would love to assist his 2023 MVP teammate to understand his elusive championship dream.
