Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey has firmly established himself as one of the NBA‘s elite in the 2025-26 season, making a strong case for an All-NBA selection. Despite challenges brought on by heavy minutes and fluctuating team lineups, Maxey’s recent rest during the All-Star break offers renewed hope for him to regain peak shooting form.
Maxey’s Outstanding Season Amid Team Injuries and Heavy Workload
Tyrese Maxey is delivering the best season of his young career, showcasing stats worthy of the spotlight. As a two-time All-Star and the 2024 Most Improved Player, he is currently averaging 28.9 points, 6.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, along with 3.3 made three-pointers on efficient shooting splits of .469/.379/.889. He has appeared in 52 of the 76ers’ 54 games, leading the NBA with an extraordinary 38.6 minutes per game.
This endurance has been crucial as key starters Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr. have missed over 20 games each. Yet, the combination of heavy playing time and extensive responsibilities on both ends seems to have taken a toll on Maxey’s three-point efficiency recently.
Decline in Shooting Accuracy and Factors Behind It
Maxey’s three-point shooting has seen a noticeable dip since the All-Star break. After shooting 40.9% from beyond the arc during his first 36 games, his percentage dropped to just 30.2% over the last 16 contests. While fatigue from consistently high minutes is likely a factor, it would be an oversimplification to blame shooting struggles solely on exhaustion.
The 76ers’ constant adjustments with Embiid and George frequently entering and exiting the lineup have disrupted the team’s rhythm, indirectly affecting Maxey’s consistency. The guard’s workload is staggering—not only does he lead the league in minutes played, but he also tops the NBA in distance covered on the court, averaging 2.80 miles per game, which is more than Amen Thompson, who is second at 2.70 miles.
On offense alone, Maxey covers 1.60 miles per game, ranking first in the league, while defensively he is tied for third in distance traveled. This extensive activity, paired with his role as a primary offensive creator alongside peers like Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic, emphasizes the magnitude of his physical and mental load.
All-Star Break: Opportunity to Recover and Rebound
The brief respite provided by the All-Star break comes at an essential time for Maxey, allowing him to rest and reset his shooting mechanics following a stretch where fatigue appeared to impact his shot. Given the 76ers’ injury challenges with Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Kelly Oubre Jr. still looming, Maxey’s ability to perform at a high level is critical for Philadelphia’s playoff hopes.
His situation highlights the delicate balance between high usage and efficiency that star players must manage, and how important recovery periods are during a grueling NBA schedule. Maxey’s performance post-break will be a key barometer for his All-NBA candidacy and the 76ers’ potential success down the stretch.
