Tyrese Maxey has proven he can step up in the absence of Joel Embiid, but will it be enough to lead them to the playoffs?
Tyrese Maxey has proven to be the Philadelphia 76ers’ salvation during Joel Embiid’s absence. Since coming out of Embiid’s shadow and into the spotlight as the team’s starter, the youthful prodigy has elevated himself. While Embiid is out with an injury, he has been the team’s leader and has taken advantage of the situation.
Embiid was having a career season, which gave him the confidence to carry the 76ers to victory and thrust them into the running. However, after Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga trod on his foot, he went down in late January with a lateral meniscus damage in his left knee.
The 76ers have dropped a lot since then, from third place to their current eighth position in the Eastern Conference rankings. But since Embiid’s injury, they have managed to survive, largely because Tyrese Maxey has done all in his power to keep his team afloat.
Maxey has advanced significantly in his professional development this year. During the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2020, the 23-year-old made his stage debut, filling in for famous people like Ben Simmons and Embiid who tested positive for the virus.
As a result, Maxey has experience filling in for his classmates when necessary, and he has made good use of this this year. He has also shown that his ability to score has significantly improved this season. In a game against the Indiana Pacers, another playoff team, on November 12, he scored 50 points, a career high at the time.