When the 2023-24 NBA season began, the Philadelphia 76ers were viewed as a favorite to be a top team in the Eastern Conference.
For what it’s worth, the 76ers fulfilled those expectations until Joel Embiid’s knee injury in January against the Golden State Warriors.
Since then, the 76ers are heading toward a downward spiral as they have dropped to the seventh spot in the conference.
One player who has somewhat kept the 76ers’ hopes alive this season is Tyrese Maxey.
The 23-year-old guard even earned his first-ever NBA All-Star selection this season.
Speaking of Maxey, he had previously missed four consecutive games due to NBA concussion protocol.
However, the young star returned to the team during their recent matchup against the New York Knicks.
Maxey opened up on returning from concussion protocol after the game, via Sam DiGiovanni.
“I was definitely tired when I came out the first time, my wind,” Maxey said.
Tyrese Maxey on how he felt in his return:
“I felt pretty good. I was definitely tired when I came out the first time, my wind. It's kind of difficult because only so much you can do while you're in the protocol. But overall, it was alright.”
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) March 13, 2024
Maxey revealed his return to the team was pretty good, but he was still tired when he first entered the game.
Maxey’s struggles were apparent as he finished the game with 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists in 28 minutes of playing time.
Moreover, Maxey shot just 6-of-14 from the field, which is not horrible, but there is certainly room for improvement.
Anyway, it was a forgettable night for the 76ers as they suffered a 106-79 defeat against the Knicks.
The 76ers are now 4-6 in the past 10 games of the season as they continue to struggle without Joel Embiid on the court.
Sure, the 76ers are currently in a Play-In Tournament spot, but they need a terrific late-season push from Maxey to clinch a top-six seed in the East.
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