Tyrese Maxey enters the 2026-27 season focused on leadership, playmaking and defense as the Philadelphia 76ers reshape their roster around him, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. Maxey said the team’s talent will require its stars to sacrifice touches and eliminate egos.
“I think the biggest thing is we can’t have anybody, nobody on this team can have an ego,” Maxey told Sam Yip of HoopsHype. “We’re all pretty accomplished. So the ego has to drop and you have to do it collectively.”
Philadelphia finished 45-37 last season and earned the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference before beating Boston in seven games in the first round. The 76ers then lost all four games of their conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks.
Maxey was Philadelphia’s leading scorer during the regular season, averaging 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 70 games while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.7% from three-point range and 89.2% from the free-throw line. He also averaged 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
The 25-year-old guard said he wants to expand his impact beyond scoring, specifically pointing to his ability to create for teammates after drawing defensive attention. He also identified his catch-and-shoot three-point ability and defense as the most underrated parts of his game.
Maxey’s role will change after Philadelphia acquired Brown from Boston for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Brown joins Maxey and Embiid as part of Philadelphia’s new core, while the late-July addition of James adds another former MVP and Finals MVP to the roster.
The 76ers also signed Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million contract and Anfernee Simons to a two-year, $12.3 million deal. Philadelphia selected Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and added additional depth through Ariel Hukporti and two-way signings.
Maxey expects the expanded group to create multiple options in late-game situations rather than establish one predetermined player. He specifically noted that VJ Edgecombe, who averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a rookie, already demonstrated an ability to make clutch shots.
The challenge will be maintaining Maxey’s effectiveness with fewer touches. He said his priorities are staying consistent, remaining involved within the flow of games and becoming a better playmaker while attacking the paint against defenses already occupied by multiple high-level scorers.
Maxey also credited patience as a major lesson from his career, particularly after dealing with several nagging injuries and difficult stretches. His development now comes with a significantly different roster, but he said outside pressure will not change his approach because the primary pressure comes from the standards he sets for himself.
“I work really, really, really, really, really, really hard,” Maxey said. “The pressure that I put, I put on myself.”
