The Philadelphia 76ers have experienced quite a rollercoaster ride this season. After James Harden’s departure, their main concern was to find a replacement for the point guard position. They didn’t have to search far, as Tyrese Maxey seamlessly adapted to the role. The 23-year-old guard has become an indispensable asset, contributing significantly to the team’s four victories this season. Their blazing start continued with a convincing 112-100 triumph over the Suns in Saturday’s game.

Even with his explosive on-court performance, Coach Nick Nurse still has a few reservations about the player. In the midst of Nurse’s concerns, Joel Embiid steps in with valuable guidance for the Kentucky guard.

Joel Embiid imparts a valuable lesson to Tyrese Maxey

Maxey finished against the Suns with 22 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. However, delving deeper into the numbers can reveal a different story. He managed just nine points in the initial 20 minutes of play, and his shooting efficiency was at 5-for-14 through three quarters. While Tyrese Maxey’s overall approach to the game is commendable, there is room for improvement in terms of his aggressiveness, particularly when it comes to seizing scoring opportunities.

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Recognizing this, Joel Embiid stepped up to offer advice to the young guard. He said, “There’s so many times where there’s space, and in those situations, you don’t have to run the play just because we called the play for somebody or whatever just to run the play for the offense. If you see the space, attack! Because you’re going to create the same look anyway. Either he’s going to score, the defense is gonna collapse, and somebody is gonna be wide open.”

Nick Nurse voices his reservations

Because Nick Nurse recognizes Maxey’s potential, he is not satisfied with Maxey’s quiet first half. He said, “He’s gotta not get into those moments where he’s not being more aggressive. I’m not criticizing him. I’m just trying to keep imploring that he needs to be more aggressive. He’s too good beating people off the dribble. He’s too good a shooter to not take more chances — his own chances — so we’re going to keep working on that a little bit.”

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To fix this, Nurse started calling plays for him in the fourth quarter and getting him involved in the offense. As a result, in the fourth quarter, he shot 4-for-4 overall and 2-for-2 from deep, including one point from the free throw line.

There’s no denying that Maxey is set to take on a pivotal role in the team’s plans. He’s the piece of the puzzle that the franchise has long sought to complement Joel Embiid’s game. However, it’s important to acknowledge that he is still a work in progress. Since entering the league, he has seen a steady rise in responsibilities year after year, and with each season, his production has shown marked improvement. This only hints that there is more to the young guard, and under HC Nick Nurse’s tutelage, he’s primed to continue his upward trajectory.

Watch this story: Joel Embiid’s Entanglement With 76ers and Knicks Disclosed by NBA Insider