Tyrese Maxey, the rising star guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, made a surprising choice to decline participation in the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend three-point contest. Although he was invited to join the event on All-Star Saturday, Maxey revealed that nerves and a desire to fully experience his first All-Star appearance influenced his decision.
“This year, I definitely wanted to do it, man,”
Maxey expressed from Portland.
“I wanted to be a part of that night, and I’m going to go out there and try to win.”
Despite this initial enthusiasm, Maxey ultimately chose to focus on relishing the honor and taking in the weekend atmosphere rather than competing.
Maxey was announced as one of the participants for the well-known three-point shooting event, which has become a highlight of All-Star Saturday Night. His reputation as one of the NBA’s most versatile long-range shooters is supported by his ability to score both off the catch and off the dribble, with an improved shooting range that puts him among the league’s elite threats beyond the arc. Heading into Wednesday’s action, Maxey was shooting 37.9% from three-point range on nearly nine attempts per game this season.
Although Maxey has showcased impressive shooting in games, he acknowledged that the contest’s format — shooting off racks within a set time — differs greatly from typical in-game shots. He has some prior experience with three-point contests from his high school and Kentucky days and planned to practice off-the-rack shooting on Tuesday night. Sixers player development coach Toure’ Murry has been sharing strategic advice with Maxey all season, including tips on the placement of the “money balls” worth extra points.
Maxey fondly recalled watching great three-point shooters like Golden State Warriors’ “Splash Brothers” Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson thrive in the contest, along with former champions Damian Lillard and Devin Booker, who are also part of this year’s field. While initial nerves were a factor, he now looks forward to embracing the All-Star weekend fully.
“Everything from that weekend and being a part of it is special,”
Maxey said.
“It’s a blessing, and I’m not going to take any of it for granted.”
Paul George’s Continued Presence Despite Suspension
Meanwhile, Paul George remains with the 76ers despite being suspended for 25 games due to a violation of the NBA’s anti-drug policy. George has served six games so far and continues to wait out the remainder of the suspension, though he is allowed to participate in team practices and shootarounds.
At the team’s shootaround in Santa Monica, George was present along with his personal trainer, who travels with the team to support his recovery and engagement with the squad. Head coach Nick Nurse emphasized the organization’s commitment to providing George with what he needs during this period.
“The organization’s equipped in any way to provide him whatever he needs,”
Nurse said, hinting that George has linked his positive drug test to mental health challenges.
“We want to keep him as engaged on the basketball side.”
Kelly Oubre Jr., who has taken on a bigger role in George’s absence, offered supportive comments when George’s suspension was announced.
“My first thought was just praying for him,”
Oubre remarked.
“Obviously, that’s tough, man, especially when you talk about mental health, because that’s the unseen. You see us physically, but you don’t know what’s going on in our head and in our lives.”
VJ Edgecombe’s Impressive Rebound Performance
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe rebounded strongly after a tough shooting night against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 2, when he shot just 1-of-11. The following night against the Golden State Warriors, coach Nick Nurse showed clear confidence in Edgecombe by immediately calling plays aimed at involving him early, which fueled a 25-point game paced by 11-of-20 shooting.
“Just to say, ‘We’re going to VJ,’”
Nurse noted.
“I didn’t know it was going to be that good. But I figured he’d be ready to go, and we just wanted to let him know we believe in him.”
Edgecombe’s quick development and composure have impressed teammates and staff alike. He stressed how much trust from teammates has empowered him on the court.
“Once your teammates have trust in you, I feel like you can just go out there and just go hoop,”
Edgecombe said.
“You don’t have to worry about if they care if you’re missing. It’s a team game. They know I’m going to make the right plays. They just have a ton of faith in me.”
The recent game was also emotionally meaningful as Edgecombe faced off against mentor and former teammate Buddy Hield, a fellow Bahamian, engaging in playful trash talk after scoring off the dribble. Edgecombe also exchanged words with Bahamian teammate Deandre Ayton during the recent loss to the Lakers and bid farewell to Eric Gordon after Gordon’s deadline trade.
Head coach Nurse credited Gordon’s steady presence as influential in helping Edgecombe develop his calm and confident approach as a rookie.
“That type of steadiness and calmness that Eric kind of always has,”
Nurse said,
“I think was valuable to VJ. He probably picked some of that up.”
Adem Bona’s Progress with Ball Handling
Reserve center Adem Bona continues fine-tuning his fundamentals while adjusting to an expanded role backing up Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond. Recently, Bona showcased some progress after grabbing a steal against the Warriors and executing a deliberate fast-break dunk that earned an enthusiastic response from the Sixers bench, highlighting his growing poise in transition plays.
Reflecting candidly on his improvement, Bona admitted that he intentionally slowed his pace following a previous game’s mishap against the Clippers where he fumbled the ball during a fast break.
“It’s kind of a joke from the previous game [against the Clippers],”
Bona said.
“I was running too fast and I fumbled the ball. I was taking my time this time. I was a little slower. … I was super slow.”
Bona has faced criticism for occasional lapses in ball security, particularly in alley-oop catches, an area that remains a focus in his ongoing development. He regularly drills these skills during pregame warmups, working closely with assistant coach TJ DiLeo to improve his movements while dribbling between his legs and behind his back.
Recent struggles remain evident, as Bona mishandled an alley-oop catch during the Sixers’ victory at the Phoenix Suns, signaling further work to come.
Travel Challenges Impact Pre-Game Routine in San Francisco
The Sixers encountered unexpected delays due to heavy San Francisco traffic during Super Bowl week, arriving over an hour late at the Chase Center for their game last Tuesday. This disruption unsettled players’ tightly scripted pregame preparations, notably on the second night of a back-to-back schedule.
Coach Nick Nurse expressed indifference toward the disrupted warmups, privately hoping players might skip their routines to conserve energy.
“I’m not that big of a believer”
in expending energy on warmups during such demanding stretches, Nurse said.
While the team bus delay threw off timing, Nurse utilized the extra travel time productively by reviewing game footage in his office and condensing his usual pre-game coaching meetings.
“They’re just review, review, review,” he said,
“one last time before we take the test.”
Dominick Barlow Secures Standard NBA Contract
Following a standout performance scoring 26 points and pulling down 16 rebounds against the Clippers, forward Dominick Barlow was rewarded by the 76ers with a conversion of his two-way contract into a full NBA deal. This contract upgrade reflects Barlow’s growing impact as a rebounder, cutter, and energy-driven role player.
Barlow’s response to the news was modest, tempered by a recent loss in which the Sixers surrendered a 14-point lead to the Lakers. Nevertheless, the transition highlights his successful adjustment and appreciation within the team.
Before joining Philadelphia, Barlow spent parts of three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks, where his playing time and starting opportunities were limited. In contrast, he feels highly valued with the 76ers.
“I feel that energy here,” Barlow said.
“I’m just having so much fun being out there with everybody.”
MarJon Beauchamp Returns to NBA Action
One silver lining to the Sixers’ heavy loss to the Portland Trail Blazers was seeing MarJon Beauchamp make his first NBA appearance of the season. Beauchamp contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists in limited minutes.
Adding to the moment’s significance, the matchup took place near Beauchamp’s Pacific Northwest roots—he was born in Yakima, Washington, and attended high school in Seattle before playing for G League Ignite and being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022.
Coach Nurse praised Beauchamp’s quickness and assertiveness, particularly his eagerness to push the pace following rebounds. Nurse also noted Beauchamp performed his assignments well, showing no critical mistakes during his extended run, which was the most substantial NBA-level action he has seen in roughly 18 months.
“I just tried to be assertive, not think too much, and just play hard,”
Beauchamp stated after the game.
Kelly Oubre added,
“He did a really good job of picking up on everything, so that goes to show that he’s been studying and putting in the work and staying ready, just giving him confidence and making sure that he feels like we’re all together, he’s in this with us and not just visiting.”
Beauchamp demonstrated determination with an ambitious dunk attempt over Portland rookie Yang Hansen, who stands 7-foot-1. Beauchamp noted he had tried to dunk during a Trail Blazers training camp deal but felt this in-game effort was the closest he had come to completing one at this level.
“I wanted that dunk so bad,”
Beauchamp said. “Next time, though.”
Veteran Perspective as Sixers Approach All-Star Break
As the Sixers prepare for their final game before the All-Star break against the New York Knicks, players recognize the importance of ending the first half of the season on a positive note. Kelly Oubre Jr. emphasized the team’s focus heading into this key matchup.
“Everybody will get up for [that],”
Oubre noted.
“Take care of that one, and we feel good going into the break.”
Oubre also reflected on the season’s progress and the team’s aspirations in a thoughtful remark:
“We have a blank canvas on the season, and we want to create a masterpiece at the end. We’re still painting.”
