Tyrese Maxey Talks About Leading the Sixers Without Joel Embiid

Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers high fives fans after defeating the Chicago Bulls (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey has grown in many ways this season. The 24-year-old All-Star guard has taken on the lead option role for Philadelphia, with former NBA MVP Joel Embiid sidelined due to injury for the majority of the season. Needless to say, he's lived up to expectations from an individual standpoint, averaging a career-high 26.6 points per game, the seventh-best mark in the NBA.

However, the Sixers have gone through a trying season due to injuries to Embiid and several of their role players, including a season-ending injury to rookie first-round pick Jared McCain, The injuries have resulted in Philadelphia starting out the season 17-27, just the 11th-best mark in the East.

 “Yeah, it's definitely been a challenge, there's no question about that,” said Maxey in a one-on-one interview with RG. “I don't think it's just solely that Joel's been out – everybody's been out. We got hit with the injury bug, but with Joel being out, that's changed numerous things for sure. Everybody's been getting hurt, so I think my biggest thing is just to keep pushing forward and just keep coming in every single day with a smile on my face and find ways to get better and find ways to elevate my teammates.”

The Sixers entered the season with championship expectations following the addition of nine-time All-Star forward Paul George. When combined with the All-Star pairing of Maxey and Embiid, Philadelphia was considered a top contender to the Boston Celtics for Eastern Conference supremacy.

Rising Through Adversity

However, things haven't been easy due to the “injury bug” as Maxey says. The Sixers went through a recent seven-game losing streak, but have bounced back to win two consecutive games, including one over the best team in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Maxey scored 30 points and dished seven assists in the victory.

With optimism that Embiid will return to the lineup from his knee injury – he's played in just 13 games this season – Maxey is still confident the Sixers can make a playoff run.

“That's really what I've been doing,” said Maxey, of taking on a leadership role with the Sixers.

“That's the challenge that I've taken, and I'm happy with it. I'm at peace with it, and I'm still going out there every single night and trying to win games, and who knows what can happen in this league. That's what the play-in is for.”

There's little doubt that the absence of Embiid has been a major reason for the Sixers' downfall. The 30-year-old big man is one of the top players in the NBA and has made Philadelphia into a consistent playoff contender, leading the Sixers to seven consecutive playoff appearances.

With him in the lineup, Philadelphia is 7-6. Without Embiid, they're just 10-21.

“ I talk to him all the time,” Maxey explained regarding his relationship with Embiid. “I'm not going to talk about his injuries, I'm going to talk about the person that he is. He's done a really good job encouraging everybody, players, and coaches. Joel is a good dude, good to talk to.”

Maxey makes sure to outline that Embiid is as “competitive” as anyone and wants to win at everything. The 24-year-old guard mentions how much he's learned from Embiid over the past five years.

“One of the most competitive players and people in life in general that I've ever met,” Maxey added on Embiid.

“He doesn't like to lose at anything. You could just be playing horse, he doesn't want to lose. He's extremely competitive. Basketball-wise, we know who Joel is – but as a person, he's great. He's taught me a lot of different things. He's there for me, and he always takes me out of the games, and always checks up on me and makes sure I'm good.”

While things haven't been perfect, Maxey and George have tried to keep the Sixers afloat in the absence of Embiid. Philadelphia is a game behind the Chicago Bulls for the last spot in the play-in tournament, while they're 5.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons for the sixth spot in the East. George missed some time at the beginning of the season, but has been healthy since, with the Sixers going a more respectable 14-16 with the 34-year-old veteran in the lineup.

 “He's a good dude,” Maxey said of George. “He has no ill intentions whatsoever. He does a really good job of talking, not just in the game, but he talks to all the young wings, which is Ricky [Council] and Justin [Edwards] and whoever else it may be and how they can get better at their craft.  He's still playing at a high level, what he brings to the table is, I'm glad that he's getting more comfortable day by day getting more healthy and ready to play.”

The Sixers still have half of the season to play, and the goal remains to get into the playoffs. Maxey is averaging career highs in points, steals, and minutes per game and stresses his objective is to continue to get better, echoing his mantra of getting “1%” better each day.