Tyrese Maxey is one of the biggest X-factors for the Philadelphia 76ers heading into the postseason. Heading into the series against the New York Knicks, one analyst is claiming this series will be a career-defining moment for the first-time All-Star.
One of the key storylines for the Sixers heading into the playoffs is Joel Embiid's health. After missing two months with a knee injury, the reigning MVP was only able to play in a few games at the end of the regular season. He's been an impact since returning to the lineup, but many agree that the superstar center won't be able to perform at 100%.
With Embiid still getting back into shape, the Sixers will rely heavily on Tyrese Maxey. For this reason, Tim Legler feels this is a big moment For young security guards. Legler believes a good performance against the Knicks could change the perception of Maxey throughout the league.
“I think by the end of this series we'll know a lot more about how we view Tyrese Maxey,” Legler said. “If there's a limit to Joel Embiid and there's a player at this level, it's an All-Star, a guy who's been scoring 25, 26 points a game all season. Guess what? I know that.”
Legler finally said that a strong series from Maxey could help him climb the NBA hierarchy.
“If you're that kind of guy, now's the time,” he continued. “If Embiid is limited, why can't Tyrese Maxey average 25, 30? He's done it all season, try doing it now in a playoff series. If we do that and the Sixers somehow win this series, Tyrese Maxey will actually have an even tougher run up the ladder from our perspective.”
Maxey is coming off his best season to date, averaging 25.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 6.2 APG. This series will be an important matchup for him as he will be facing another rising star at the point guard position. Jalen Brunson is also coming off a career year and looking to lead the Knicks deep into the postseason.
