Teammates and Coaches Praise Tyrese Maxey
We are just one day away from seeing the Sixers take the court in their first preseason game. There is a lot to watch with this new-look Sixers, and one player that stands out is rookie Tyrese Maxey.
The Sixers lucked out on draft night being able to land Maxey with the 21st overall pick. As he prepares to get his first taste of NBA action, Maxey received a lot of praise from teammates and head coach Doc Rivers during media availability on Monday.
When asked about players he was looking forward to seeing play on Tuesday, Rivers mentioned Maxey and wanting to see what he could do with the second unit as a ball handler. Rivers expects Maxey to be on the ball with the second unit and looks at him as a player that could start the offense.
Along with what he can do for the team offensively, Rivers also has liked what he's seen from the first-round pick on the other side of the ball.
Maxey defensively knows how not get picked, knowns how fight through picks, stays in front of the ball, talks on defense. For a rookie that's unheard of.
Another person who liked what he saw from Maxey defensively was Matisse Thybulle. As we know Thybulle prides himself on that side of the ball, so getting his seal of approval should be a testament to what he has shown defensively.
I think defensively he's got a really high motor and he's strong for being a young kid so he's not dying on screens. These are things that go a long way, these are things that got me on the court last season. It's cool see him taking pride in that.
Maxey spoke with the media on Sunday and talked about some of the guys that have helped show him the ropes since arriving in Philadelphia. One of the guys he's mentioned is veteran forward Mike Scott.
When Scott was asked about the rookie on Monday, he was not shy about his standout play thus far. He would mention that he was making plays offensively, knocking down jumpshots, and his defense was great. Scott would go on to say that the rookie was the MVP of the day.
Along with his play on the court, Scott also dove into how Maxey has been off the floor.
The best thing about him is that he's willing to listen, wanting to learn, and asking questions. He's getting off to a great start.
Despite having such little time in camp, it looks like Maxey has left a great first impression with his teammates and coaches. Many people were calling Maxey the steal of the draft on draft night, and it looks like he has already begun to show why.
Kevin McCormick is the 76ers insider for 97.3 ESPN and 76ers editor for Sportstalkphilly.com. Follow him on Twitter @KevinMcC973.