Aug. 23, 2026, 7:01 a.m. ET
When one thinks about Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey, one automatically goes to ruthless scoring ability. His ability to break down defenders off the dribble and knock down dagger 3s from way beyond the line as well as his blinding quickness to the basket.
However, Maxey has taken big steps on the defensive end as well as in his leadership. Therefore, with the game on the line against the Golden State Warriors early in the 2025-26 season, he wasn’t going to just quit.
After VJ Edgecombe had a putback to give Philadelphia the lead, the Warriors had a chance at the buzzer as former Sixers guard De’Anthony Melton had a look, but Maxey raced down and blocked his game-winning attempt at the buzzer to preserve a Sixers win. His effort earned him the top defensive play of the 2025-26 season.
Maxey will look to continue setting the tone in the 2026-27 season. Despite the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, this is still Maxey’s team and they will look to him to lead the way.
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