Sports Editor
Texas Metro News
Photos: Dorothy J. Gentry
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, a Dallas native, took in the Mavericks playoff game Monday night at American Airlines Center.
Maxey, 23, was born in Dallas. He graduated from South Garland High School where, as a shooting guard, he helped the Titans to their first state high school basketball tournament appearance in 2018.
He went on to play at Kentucky but left after a year. The 76ers selected Maxey as the 21st pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft.
Last month, the NBA named Maxey its Most Improved Player. He became the second player in 76ers history to earn the honor, joining Dana Barros who was recognized with the distinction in the 1994-95 season.
Now, in his fourth season, Maxey has landed among the NBA’s Top 11 scorers, averaging 25.9 points per game – up from 20.3 in the 2022-23 season.
Maxey boosted his rebounding average to 3.7, up from last season’s 2.9 rebounds per game. He improved his assists to 6.2, nearly double from the 3.5 assists he tallied in 2022-2023 season. His average steals improved, as well, up to 1 per game, from 0.8 last season. Each stat represents a career high for the former McDonald’s All-American.
This year, Maxey garnered another first: an NBA All-Star recognition. He helped lead the 76ers to Round 1 in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs; however, the New York Knicks defeated the 76ers 4-2 in that series.