Tyrese Maxey is motivated to win, do big things in the community

Last season for the Philadelphia 76ers was a shocking disappointment. After signing Paul George, the 76ers were looking to have a Big 3 of Joel Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey, but due to injuries, none of that came together. 

Ultimately, the 76ers would win only 24 games and miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

For Maxey, who averaged a career-high 26.3 points per contest in 52 games, missing the playoffs was a setback, and it has motivated Maxey to strive for even greater heights.

“Extremely, ​I’m not ​going ​​to sit here and lie to ​you,” Maxey said. “​I’ve ​been ​motivated ​all ​my ​life ​, but ​that(missing the playoffs) ​has ​motivated ​levels ​that ​I ​can’t ​even ​explain, ​honestly. ​I ​mean​, I’ve ​won ​at ​every ​stage ​of ​my ​career. ​I’ve ​been ​on ​winning ​teams, ​so ​not ​being ​on ​the ​winning ​team ​last ​year ​definitely ​has ​put ​me ​in ​a ​mindset ​of, ​you ​know, that’s ​what ​we ​need ​to ​do ​, and ​I’m ​gonna ​go ​out ​there ​and ​do ​them.”

Maxey’s motivation extends beyond the court. He’s not just driven to win at a high level, but also to make a positive impact in his community.

This weekend in Philadelphia, the Tyrese Maxey Foundation, which was established in 2021, hosted its second annual “Friends & Family Weekend.” The three-day event included the Night of Giving dinner, Celebrity Golf Tournament, and the 1% Skills Camp, which is a free basketball camp.

The Dallas, Texas, native said that his grandparents motivated him to give back to his community.

“I say it every time, man,” Maxey said. “My grandmother always told me, both of them, they said once I made it, this is what they needed me to do. Give back to the community, whatever city I get drafted to, and also at home. ​When ​I ​was ​younger, ​I ​wanted ​somebody ​to give ​back ​to ​me, ​and ​I’m ​able ​to ​do ​that, so ​it’s ​been ​great.”

You can learn a lot about a person based on how they approach athletics. Coming into the NBA, Maxey’s weakness was his shot, which has now turned into one of his strengths. That shows he’s a young man with high character and is willing to put in the work, which also includes working to make the world a better place. 

For more information on Maxey and his foundation, visit http://www.tyresemaxeyfoundation.com.