Standout 76ers Guard Tyrese Maxey is PSWA Humanitarian Award winner
There was an explosive first step and a timely outside shot, a youthful energy combined with a veteran’s confidence, good hands, good speed and a can-do attitude.
For that, Tyrese Maxey was able to become one of the most well received young 76ers in years. Just the same, he would make it his mission to do even more. So he would, using his popularity to make an off-the-court difference, too, becoming so helpful to others to have earned the Humanitarian Award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.
Based in Garland, Texas, near his Dallas hometown, Maxey’s faith-based, not-for-profit organization provides youth with skills and resources to become leaders in the community, the family and the educational process.
Maxey’s community service extends far beyond Texas, as he has hosted youth basketball camps in Philadelphia, Texas and Kentucky, where he played college basketball. Most recently, though recovering from a broken foot, Maxey took the lead in distributing more than 300 Thanksgiving turkeys to West Philadelphia families in need.
Recognizing the foundation, the turkey drives, the camps and Maxey’s relentless commitment to serve, the NBA recognized him with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner for November. That monthly award recognizes community-committed NBA stars, and with it came a $10,000 boost from the league to Maxey’s foundation.
“I’m grateful to God, my community and the NBA for this honor,” said Maxey of the NBA Cares recognition. “I feel really connected to families in Philly and Dallas because they work so hard day in and day out.”
As impressive as his off-court commitments have been, Maxey rapid emergence as one of the NBA most dynamic young stars has given a natural boost to the effort.
Selected 21st overall in the 2020 draft, Maxey made an immediate impact when he scored 39 points in a January victory over the Denver Nuggets. In his second season, he was selected to participate in the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend. In the Sixers’ first playoff game last season, Maxey scored 38 points in a victory over the Toronto Raptors, and with a 20.2-pong scoring average, he was the Sixers’ leading scored in a second-round loss to Miami.
“It was pretty spectacular, really,” Tobias Harris said. “Honestly. The shots that he was making. The confidence. It was just all coming together.”
By his third season, Maxey had been firmly established as a developing star, and in October he scored 44 points in a triumph over the Raptors.
Earlier this season, Maxey boosted the Sixers’ back-to-school initiative, participating at a pep rally at the Forest Hill elementary school in Camden, where 300 students received new backpacks and school supplies. Maxey encouraged the students to respect their teachers, attend class and setting goals.
At age 22, Tyrese Maxey already has reached many of his known basketball goals, yet he has forged a reputation as a relentless worker, typically working on his game long after any official practice.
But the winner of the Ed Snider Humanitarian Aware knows his effort should not be limited to the basketball floor.
“I understand that just to be in a position to give back,” he said, “I’m truly blessed.”
By Jack McCaffery
Delaware County Daily Times
(Photo, Forbes)