Tyrese Maxey may have saved the Philadelphia 76ers and "The Process" entirely, Joe DeCamara explained on Friday's 94WIP Morning Show.
Maxey talk begins at 12:50 mark
"True or false to this statement: If Tyrese Maxey—if they drafted some bum, like another [2018 first-round pick] Zhaire Smith that year, Joel Embiid would have already asked out of Philadelphia. True or false?" DeCamara asked.
"Hundred percent true," James Seltzer replied.
"I mean, he might have saved everything," DeCamara said. "Seriously. And by the way, we don't know if this is going to amount to anything when this is all said and done, but if they didn't have him they'd be dead in the water because Fultz didn't work out, Ben didn't work, and Tobias obviously has not lifted the Sixers they way you would have hoped with that contract."
On the day where he was named to his first All-Star team, Maxey went off on Thursday night, scoring 51 points (17-27 FG, 7-9 3P, and 10-11 FT) and committing zero turnovers in a 127-124 win at Utah without Joel Embiid.
It was Maxey's first game back after missing the previous three with an ankle injury and the Sixers snapped a four-game losing streak.
The team announced Embiid has a left lateral meniscus injury before Thursday's game, with a treatment plan yet to be determined.
Maxey, 23, was the Sixers' 21st overall pick in 2020. In his fourth NBA season, Maxey is averaging career-highs in points (26.3), assists (6.4), rebounds (3.6), steals (1.0), blocks (0.6), and minutes (37.5).
Maxey's scoring average year-by-year has steadily increased from 8.0 points per game, to 17.5, to 20.3, and now to 26.3 this season. He is also an impressive 40.4-percent three-point shooter on 4.8 attempts per game for his career.