Could Sixers' Tyrese Maxey Win NBA's Most Improved Player?

Throughout the 2021-2022 NBA season, Philadelphia 76ers' second-year guard Tyrese Maxey made noise as a dark horse candidate to potentially win the NBA's Most
Could Sixers' Tyrese Maxey Win NBA's Most Improved Player?
Could Sixers' Tyrese Maxey Win NBA's Most Improved Player? /

Throughout the 2021-2022 NBA season, Philadelphia 76ers' second-year guard Tyrese Maxey made noise as a dark horse candidate to potentially win the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

As the Sixers found themselves in a tough situation with the three-time All-Star point guard Ben Simmons holding out for a trade, Philly held a not-so-quiet competition for the starting point guard position at the beginning of the season.

Shake Milton and Tyrese Maxey battled it out in training camp and the preseason. The second-year standout won and started off the year in Philly's starting five. As Simmons never returned to the court, Maxey solidified his role as a full-time starter.

And once the Sixers traded away Simmons and other pieces for James Harden, nothing about Maxey's spot on the depth chart changed. Throughout his first season as a full-time starter, Maxey blew away expectations.

Last season, the young guard averaged eight points, two assists, and one rebound while shooting 46-percent from the field and 30-percent from three. This year, Maxey doubled that production as he put up 17 points per game, four assists, and three rebounds while knocking down 48-percent of his shots and 42-percent of his threes.

After appearing in 75 games this year, you could argue that Maxey's significant second-year jump is worthy of winning the Most Improved Player award. However, the voters won't allow Maxey to garner that award.

On Sunday, the NBA announced the three finalists for the award. San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, and Cleveland Cavaliers standout Darius Garland are all in the running.

Maxey, who might be close to the top, is on the outside looking in at the top three. While Maxey won't have the opportunity to get his hands on the Most Improved Player award, the young guard can still feel good about his second-year emergence as he played a vital role on the Sixers as they look to possibly compete for a title.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_. 


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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA