Tyrese Maxey shifts the focus for the Sixers: "I want to be judged by my wins"

Tyrese Maxey faces a particularly important season with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 25-year-old guard just completed the best scoring campaign of his career, averaging 28.3 points per game, and has been selected as an All-Star in two of the last three seasons. However, his personal goals have taken a back seat.

After the second practice of the Sixers at training camp, Maxey made it clear that the only statistic that truly matters to him for the upcoming season is the one related to the team's performance. "I'm at a point where I've already shown what I can do in terms of talent," he explained. "Of course, I'm going to keep improving, but I want to be judged by winning. If we win, that's what I want to be judged on."

"I'm going to play how they need me to"

Maxey also wanted to make it clear that he is willing to adjust his game to the needs of a team with four big names: Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and himself.

The guard recalled that throughout his career he has played different roles and believes that this versatility can be particularly important now. "I've played so many different roles that I'm capable of doing many different things," he noted.

Maxey can create with the ball, play without it, run in transition, shoot after receiving, participate in off-ball screens, or take on responsibilities in pick and roll situations. Therefore, he does not seem worried about finding a specific role within such a talented roster.

"I'm going to play how they need me to play. However the coach Nick Nurse wants me to play, that's how I'm going to play," he stated.

An increasingly important role in the locker room

Beyond what he can contribute on the court, Maxey is also taking on greater responsibility within the locker room. The player believes that his experience in Philadelphia allows him to be one of the voices of the new group.

"My voice carries some weight, and I also have the charisma to smile and have a good time," he explained. Maxey also recalled that both he and Embiid have been with the franchise for many years. "I'm growing, I'm getting older, and I feel like I've been here for a while. Process [Embiid] has been here for, what, 13 years? I've been here for seven. We've been here for a while, we know how things work, and I'm just trying to use my voice to help everyone get to know each other and feel comfortable."

Praise for LeBron, Embiid, and Brown

Maxey also took the opportunity during media responses to talk about his three most prominent teammates. Regarding LeBron James, the Sixers guard highlighted the personal relationship he has with him.

"He's like an older brother to me. He's an older man... He's a good guy. He's a good guy," he commented.

As for Joel Embiid, Maxey was particularly optimistic after the first practices. "He looks incredible. He seems happy," he stated. The guard believes that the center's personal state can be important for his performance: "When you're healthy, you're happy, and you're at peace with your life and basketball, that's when you're at your best. He's been great."

Maxey also had words of praise for Jaylen Brown, who has just arrived in Philadelphia after spending his entire NBA career with the Boston Celtics. "JB is a physical phenomenon. He’s stronger than you. He jumps higher than you. He’s faster than you, and he has a lot of talent," he stated.

But the aspect that has caught his attention the most during the first practices has not only been Brown's physical ability. Maxey particularly highlighted Brown's communication and willingness to take on any task assigned by the coach.

Brown adapts to a new reality

Brown himself avoided responding on Monday during Media Day when asked how the Sixers would establish a hierarchy among their stars and who would be the team's "alpha." His response was brief: "Next question."

Maxey, on the other hand, explained that this change represents a particularly unique situation for Brown after a decade in Boston. "This is very strange for him. Imagine being in one place for 10 years and coming here, to the team that you've probably been trained to hate," he noted.

The situation is even more striking considering the competitive context between the two franchises. "It's been great. Especially because we just beat Boston in the playoffs. It's a bit crazy," Maxey added.

As Philadelphia begins to build its new dynamic, the guard seems clear on what his priority should be. After proving that he can produce at an individual level and establishing himself as an All-Star, Maxey wants the upcoming evaluation of his season to be determined by what the Sixers can achieve as a team.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tyrese Maxey cambia el foco en los Sixers: "Quiero que me juzguen por ganar"