76ers' Tyrese Maxey gets teary thanking Joel Embiid for big brother mentorship

In a speech to teammate Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard wore his emotions on his sleeve after signing a massive contract extension.

Tyrese Maxey's and Joel Embiid's bromance in full effect / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Two of our favorite days on the sports calendar are the NFL draft and the NBA draft.

Aside from the fact that we learn if our team landed some reinforcements for the coming season and beyond, we get to enjoy the sight of very large men bawling their eyes out. Save for winning a championship or receiving a major award, the drafts are generally the only nights to bask in the joy of imposing 300-pounders or tough seven-footers letting down their guard and letting the emotions flow.

For pro athletes, off-season tears are rare. Unless your name is Tyrese Maxey, who of course is flying high after signing his monster five year, $205 million contract extension.

The Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard is a warm, fuzzy, and honest dude, unafraid to open his heart to the media, especially when it comes to discussing his family.

And based on a clip that’s making its way around social media, his MVP teammate Joel Embiid has become an MVP family friend.

In a tribute to Embiid, Maxey’s waterworks were on full display as he told the world how the dominant center helped him become, well, him.

“Big fella… You were the first person to really believe in me… Just walking onto the plane, you telling me to sit there, you bringing me a PlayStation… That meant the world to me… I hope I’m not going to let you down.”

~ An emotional Tyrese Maxey to Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/MItrxILRGx

— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) July 8, 2024

If Maxey’s and Embiid’s off-court personal relationship remains as tight as their real-life connection — and if new Sixer Paul George can manage to do Paul George things on a nightly basis — next season might be a special one in the City of Brotherly Love.

And given all the pressure surrounding Embiid, Maxey needs to be the Robin to his Batman.

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