Nick Nurse makes case for Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey to be an All-Star
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers are steaming ahead in the 2023-24 season. Currently 23-10 and in third place in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers are turning their attention to the trade deadline, the playoffs and the All-Star game.
All-Star weekend (Feb. 16-18) is approaching quickly. While Joel Embiid will undoubtedly be there, he might be joined by Tyrese Maxey.
The rising star out of Kentucky is averaging 25.9 points, 6.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 45.8% from the floor and 38.8% from deep. He has calmly stepped into the point guard role left by James Harden, and he hasn’t blinked in the face of the challenges.
Coach Nick Nurse believes Maxey should be an All-Star for the first time in his career.
“He’s making a great case,” Nurse said of Maxey. “I think everybody’s certainly seen yet another big step up for him. For me, I put a lot of stock in where your team is in the standings, right? I know a lot of people talk about that, right? For me, that’s like way up there. Start at the top and you start looking at who’s impacting the teams that are winning big time, right?”
Maxey is a big reason for Philadelphia’s success. He led the Sixers to a 2-2 record on their most recent road trip without the injured Embiid. He had 23 points in a win over the Orlando Magic and 42 against the Houston Rockets. He has made an obvious positive impact.
“His numbers say that he’s really close or there,” Nurse finished. “I think our team success has a lot to do with it so I think he’s making a very, very strong case.”
Fan voting for the All-Star game in the NBA will end Jan. 20. Maxey is fifth in East backcourt voting.
