LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey. Image via: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images
Maxey, a 26-year-old All-NBA guard, is still learning how his new teammate thinks. James first met Maxey at his house before the 2020 draft, when a 19-year-old Maxey spent the visit playing video games with Bronny and Bryce. Because nobody knows when a pass is coming, hands up, he said afterward, is the right habit with James on the floor,. Because he wanted a place to chase a fifth championship, he passed on a homecoming with the Cavaliers and a return to the Heat.
Maxey said he did not think James had seen him. “You got to become a wide receiver or a catcher at that point,” Maxey said. James has said Maxey is the same person now as he was then, respectful to everyone in the house and down to earth. When James told the Lakers he was leaving, Maxey was among the first to call. “We can use you down here,” Maxey told him, in James’ retelling. He has said the Jaylen Brown trade changed his view, and that Maxey’s presence mattered too.
Tyrese Maxey was ready to go up for a rebound on what he thought was a LeBron James layup. The ball came to him instead. The Philadelphia 76ers guard laughed about it after the game, then praised a part of James’ game that rarely gets top billing. James joined the Sixers this summer after deciding not to return to the Lakers, and the lessons are arriving one pass at a time. He figured the four-time MVP was about to shoot, so his hands went up for the miss. The ball came anyway. He laughed through the whole explanation. Passing has always been a big part of James’ game, and teammates like Maxey are only now seeing it from the inside. James reads the floor a play or two ahead. Give a teammate a sliver of space and he will find him. Maxey sits at the center of a loaded Sixers offense still finding its rhythm, and James has added another layer of playmaking to it. The two have history. They also trained together over several offseasons, and James has praised the guard’s work ethic. James shared the story on his Mind the Game podcast. The pitch was casual. Philadelphia was not high on James’ list at first, with Cleveland and Miami also in the running.
Philadelphia plays the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
Through the opening weeks, Maxey is averaging 28 points, fifth in the league, while shooting 48.6 percent. His 11 fourth-quarter points per game lead the NBA, which gives James’ passing a ready target late in games. Last season Maxey set career highs at 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists, and he made his first All-NBA team.
The numbers back up the pitch.