Three Observations from Sixers’ Summer League Opener

The Summer Sixers took the court Monday afternoon for their opening matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Nerves and rust were apparent early, but it did not take long for the Sixers to take full control of the game. 

Behind strong showings from multiple players, the Sixers found themselves with a 95-73 victory. Here are three observations from the blowout victory. 

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Isaiah Joe Impresses early 

Multiple Sixers impressed in their Summer League debut, but few stood out more than Isaiah Joe. The 2020 second-round pick looked great to kick off his second NBA season. 

Joe was drafted for his ability to shoot the lights out from deep, and he showcased this shooting on Monday. Whether it was off the dribble or catch, he confidently let it fly from deep. Twelve of Joe's 15 points came from beyond the arc, connecting on four of his eight attempts. 

Another area he showed growth in was his ballhandling. Joe was primarily a catch-and-shoot wing player in college and last season but looked confident putting the ball on the floor against the Mavericks. 

Summer League is a great opportunity to build momentum heading into training camp. If Joe can keep this level of play up, he will find himself in the running for a rotation spot to start the regular season. 

Jaden Springer shows good promise 

Among the players making their Summer League debuts on Monday was rookie Jaden Springer. This was the first-round pick's first chance to show what he can do in a Sixers' uniform. 

Springer started the game and played 24 minutes on Monday. In that time, he posted 11 points, one rebound, two assists, and two blocks. For being just 18-years-old, Springer held his own in his first glimpse of action as a pro. 

Offensively he took some time to get going, but defense is where he stood out. Springer showed strong fundamentals and discipline as a defender, very impressive for such a young prospect. 

It was clear that when the Sixers drafted Springer, they did it with the long view in mind. Some parts of his game are going to need fine-tuning, but Springer showed there is a lot to like about his growing game. 

Tyrese Maxey continues to shine 

Leading up to the Summer League, many wondered if Tyrese Maxey will join the Sixers' young players. Upon the roster being released, there was instant excitement surrounding the young guard. To little surprise, Maxey looked stellar in his debut. 

After seeing what Maxey did on the NBA stage last season, there was little doubt he would disappoint in the Summer League. He was expected to look like the best player on the floor and did just that. 

Maxey had a slow start to the game but was untouchable once he got comfortable. He finished the game with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just 25 minutes on the floor. 

Each time Maxey is given an opportunity to showcase his game, he never disappoints. Maxey did an incredible job setting the tone for the Sixers on both ends of the floor. 

Playing time was hard to come by for Maxey at points last season. He is likely to see a much bigger role in his sophomore campaign.