“Tyrese Maxey has taken his game to the next level. The offense has been in a constant state of evolution since he set foot in the league out of Kentucky. Maxey is a notoriously hard worker. He is coachable beyond belief and dedicated to improving ‘one percent’ each day, which has become his personal motto. Maxey was a sub-30 percent shooter from deep in college. Now he’s one of the most dynamic volume shooters in the NBA.
- Chris Kline
FanSided Staff Writer
What has facilitated Maxey’s latest ascent, however, is defense. He’s no longer a festering negative on that end. He’s racking up steals and putting his athleticism to good use, whether that’s busting up passing lanes or sticking with ball-handlers at the point of attack. With Maxey trending up on defense, it becomes even easier to appreciate the bountiful offensive talent. In addition to a feathery jumper, Maxey is possibly the fastest straight-line driver in basketball. His ability to tilt a defense and apply rim pressure is difficult to contain when he’s also being treated as a deadly 3-point threat.
It has been a struggle, at times, for Maxey to embrace his point guard billing, but that progression continues. He’s not an elite processor or an overly advanced passer, but he can leverage his speed on drive-and-kick opportunities. He’s equally comfortable with the ball in his hands or spotting up along the perimeter and attacking with breakneck aggression off the catch. That combination of speed and shooting is unmatched in today’s league, and he gets special credit for his elite body control on full-speed finishes.