Tyrese Maxey, the 24-year-old point guard and rising star of the Philadelphia 76ers, already has clear goals for the 2025-26 NBA season. After recovering physically, he wants to set a new standard within the team, convinced that the Sixers need an identity that remains regardless of who is available.
He explained that his main objective is to establish a standard so that no matter who plays or who doesn’t, when people watch the Philadelphia 76ers, they know exactly what the team represents.
Last season, the Sixers had their worst record since 2016-17, breaking a seven-year streak of being playoff contenders, which included five trips to the conference semifinals. Injuries to Joel Embiid, the centerpiece of the system, along with uncertainty surrounding Paul George, complicated the franchise’s aspirations.
For Maxey, however, success should not depend solely on those stars. He said the team needs to build an identity where it doesn’t matter if he, Embiid, Jared, or George miss games… the 76ers will still compete every night and play hard.
The opportunities he had without Embiid allowed him to make a significant leap. In 2023-24, he earned his first All-Star selection, averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists, and was named Most Improved Player. A year later, he delivered his best season with 26.3 points and 6.1 assists in 52 games before a right finger injury sidelined him for the final three contests.
Now ranked 28th in ESPN’s player rankings, Maxey is preparing for his sixth season as the team’s undisputed leader. He reflected that going through losing for the first time in his career helped him grow as a leader. He stressed that it isn’t about age or seniority, but about wanting to win and doing it the right way.
In this new cycle, he will be joined by a younger and faster roster that includes Jared McCain, No. 3 draft pick VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes, though the group lacks size. Still, Maxey insists the key will be work culture, saying the most important thing is ensuring the culture is strong and that everyone is moving in the same direction.
