The Philadelphia 76ers have started the season in fine form. They have pleasantly surprised a lot of fans this season, showcasing stellar displays despite the upheaval surrounding the James Harden trade. Many people wrote off the Sixers before the start of the season, but the brilliance of Embiid coupled with the emergence of Tyrese Maxey has turned the Sixers into one of the premier teams in the NBA.

Tyrese Maxey, especially, has played a significant role in Philadelphia’s good run of form. However, his father remains unimpressed by his performances in the early stages of the 2023-24 season.

Tyrese Maxey creates history

The 76ers faced a disheartening conclusion to the previous campaign, exiting the Eastern Conference semifinals with a loss to the Celtics. Compounded by the James Harden trade saga, their offseason preparations were adversely affected, leading to skepticism from fans and analysts. Despite these challenges, the team, under the guidance of new coach Nick Nurse, has defied expectations with a strong start to the season. The Sixers currently are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, having won 11 games and losing another 5.

Joel Embiid continues to perform at an elite level, maintaining his high-scoring presence with an impressive average of 32.1 points per game. Notably, the emergence of Tyrese Maxey has been an unexpected and key factor in the 76ers’ strong start to the season. In a standout performance against the Indiana Pacers, Tyrese Maxey achieved a career milestone by scoring an impressive 50 points. This remarkable feat marked him as the first Philadelphia 76ers guard to achieve a 50-point game since Allen Iverson accomplished it in 2005.

Maxey recalled an intimate moment during his 50-point performance on Maxey on the Mic. He said, “My mom sent me a video. They were all watching the game together. So everybody is screaming and my dad, he’s just sitting there, with his arms folded and straight-faced. I am like, ‘What could I have done better?’ But like, that’s how my dad is. I appreciate him for that because that just makes me so much better.” The 76ers appear formidable in the early stages of the season, yet their true mettle will be tested as injuries inevitably mount

Are the Sixers title contenders?

While Joel Embiid stands as one of the league’s premier players and coach Nick Nurse showcases tactical prowess, the team remains a work in progress, with other contenders further along in their development. The Sixers need to strengthen their roster by adding further depth and quality.

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But the early signs under Nick Nurse are promising and Philadelphia might be just one star player away from challenging for the title. With Maxey and Embiid, the Sixers have a solid foundation. Daryl Morey needs to find the right pieces to turn this promising Sixers side into formidable title contenders.

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