Maxey Leads Philadelphia as James and Brown Join the 76ers

Philadelphia's championship ambitions for the 2026-27 NBA season center on Tyrese Maxey, whose development into an All-NBA guard helped attract LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. Former Philadelphia guard Cameron Payne believes Maxey will remain the team's primary leader despite the arrival of two established stars, while Maxey himself has emphasized winning as his principal objective.

Maxey averaged career highs of 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists across 70 games during the 2025-26 season, according to BasketNews. He earned his second All-Star selection and his first All-NBA Third Team honor, establishing himself as one of Philadelphia's leading players after six years with the organization.

Payne, who recently joined Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the EuroLeague after his second stint with Philadelphia, expects the offense to continue revolving around Maxey.

"I think it's going to be Tyrese Maxey's team," Payne told BasketNews. "I think LeBron is going to go in unselfish. He's going to draw attention regardless.

But I'm going to say it's Tyrese Maxey's team. He's the head of the snake. He's the point guard, and they're going to have to play off him."

Payne played 22 games for Philadelphia during the 2025-26 season, averaging 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 17.0 minutes per game. His campaign ended after a right hamstring strain against the Detroit Pistons on April 4, and the 76ers waived him six days later.

He believes Maxey's combination of scoring and playmaking will help accommodate Philadelphia's new arrivals.

"Man, he's so talented. He can get downhill. He's a great shooter," Payne said.

"Tyrese Maxey's just a hell of a player. He's making that step, making that jump to becoming a superstar."

Payne also highlighted Maxey's ability to create opportunities for teammates while maintaining his own scoring production.

"He just knows how to get everyone involved, and he knows how to get his own shots as well," Payne said.

James joined Philadelphia during the offseason after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, signing a two-year, $8 million contract, according to BasketNews. The opportunity developed after the 76ers acquired Brown from the Boston Celtics in July, changing the team's prospects of adding another major star.

Maxey had previously trained with James during offseason workouts in Los Angeles. The two players also began preparing for their partnership on the court after James chose Philadelphia, with Brown participating in some sessions.

Maxey has said the additional attention associated with James does not distract him from his responsibilities. His comments to The Athletic, reported by Yahoo Sports on October 20, reflected the personal changes he has experienced since arriving in Philadelphia from Kentucky as a young player.

"It's been a hell of a journey," Maxey told The Athletic.

Maxey explained that Philadelphia was where he first lived independently, learned to manage his finances and eventually started a family. He also welcomed his daughter, Marvel, during the offseason.

"The journey has been great, and I'm thankful for Philadelphia and thankful for the Sixers for allowing me to grow," Maxey said.

His increased responsibility follows several changes in Philadelphia's roster and playing structure. Maxey progressed from a rookie reserve to a starting point guard during Ben Simmons' holdout, later playing alongside Joel Embiid and James Harden before becoming a primary scoring option during periods when teammates were unavailable because of injuries.

After Philadelphia's playoff elimination against the New York Knicks, Maxey acknowledged the defensive pressure he faced during the series.

"They made it tough on me. I can't even sit here and lie. … It was definitely one of the hardest series I've played in, for just myself," Maxey said.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Maxey and personal trainer Drew Hanlen subsequently focused on improving his efficiency during offseason workouts. Their work included better balance before shooting, changes of pace, midrange attempts and decisions to pass rather than force finishes near the basket.

Hanlen described the objective as simplifying Maxey's approach instead of relying on speed and repeated dribbling to create space.

"The biggest breakthrough was just him understanding that the easiest solution is usually the best solution," Hanlen told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Making the game easier is a good thing."

James' arrival also presents a challenge in distributing responsibility among Philadelphia's leading players. Payne expects James to attract defensive attention and believes coach Nick Nurse can manage the adjustment because of his experience coaching star players.

"For him, I mean, he's LeBron. I don't think he's going to be the one to have to adjust," Payne told BasketNews. "I think it's going to be the guys having to adjust around him because he's going to draw so much attention."

Payne said he believes Philadelphia has the talent to compete for the championship, citing the roster's depth and the addition of James and Brown. He also expressed confidence in Nurse's ability to integrate the players.

"I think Nick Nurse is going to do a great job with those guys. He's coached a lot of stars, so I think it'll be an easy transition for him. They have a very talented team, and I think they may win it all," Payne said.

Maxey has made clear that individual recognition is no longer his primary measure of progress after earning his first All-NBA selection. Speaking to The Philadelphia Inquirer, he described the standard he intends to pursue as Philadelphia enters a season with heightened expectations.

"I'm at the point now where I've shown what I can do, talent-wise, I think," Maxey said. "Of course, I'm going to continue to get better. But I want to be judged by winning. … That's really my main mindset, my main goal, is finding ways to win."

James previously sought Maxey's perspective on the attention that would accompany his arrival, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Maxey said his priority remained helping the organization and his teammates succeed.

"My biggest thing is I want to help my teammates, this organization, try to win basketball games and try to win at the highest level," Maxey said.

Payne's own departure from Philadelphia followed an injury rather than a planned end to his season, he told BasketNews. He returned to the NBA on February 18 after leaving Partizan Belgrade, but the hamstring injury prevented him from completing the campaign.

"No, I actually did fit. I just got hurt," Payne said. "When I got hurt, I think the injury was going to be too long, so I really wasn't going to be able to play, and they needed somebody on the roster."

Payne said he believed he would have remained with Philadelphia if he had stayed healthy. He has played 499 NBA regular-season games over 11 seasons, averaging 7.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

"So I felt like if I was healthy still, I would have finished the season out with those guys," Payne said.