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Tyrese Maxey discusses leadership mantle as Sixers start postseason
TL;DR
The Philadelphia 76ers, as the No. 7 seed in the East, are set to begin the postseason against the Orlando Magic. Tyrese Maxey, who averaged 28.3 points this season, is stepping up as a leader for the team.
PHILADELPHIA -- As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the 2026 postseason, it will start in the play-in tournament as they are the No. 7 seed in the East. The Sixers will play host to the Orlando Magic and they will need Tyrese Maxey to make sure this group is ready to go.
Maxey finished up his sixth season in the league averaging 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46.2% from the floor and 36.7% from deep while playing in 70 games. He shot only 32% from deep in the final nine games as he worked his way back from a right finger tendon strain, but the Sixers will follow the 2-time All-Star into battle on Wednesday night.
The leadership mantle has been thrust upon Maxey in 2025-26. While he was already one of the team's top players and somebody the Sixers relied on in a number of ways, he has taken steps forward in his leadership ability and his continued development for this group.
"All-time high," Maxey said succinctly of leading this group. "All-time high. I've been leading in different ways all season, since summertime, and this is a great opportunity for myself to try to lead us and try to get us to the playoffs, and try to lead this group. I've been leading this group all year, and I'm happy to lead the group no matter what the circumstances."
It will not be easy for Maxey and Co. to get the job done. The Sixers will face a tough Magic team that fought their way out of the play-in the previous year in 2025. The Sixers fought their way out in 2024 so both teams have an idea of what's at stake when the game tips off on Wednesday.
It also doesn't help that the Sixers won't have Joel Embiid as he continues to recover from an emergency appendectomy, but either way, Maxey will be looking to throw the team on his back and guide them to the playoffs. There will be a lot on his shoulders heading into the postseason for Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey discusses leadership mantle as Sixers start postseason
Q&A
What are Tyrese Maxey's average stats for the 2025-26 season?
Tyrese Maxey averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range.
How did the Philadelphia 76ers qualify for the postseason in 2026?
The Philadelphia 76ers qualified for the postseason as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, starting in the play-in tournament.
Who are the Philadelphia 76ers playing in the first round of the playoffs?
The Philadelphia 76ers will be hosting the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.
