Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has a direct message for Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey is the team's best player and needs to stop deferring. The Sixers' strong 4-1 start, capped by a 114-109 win over the Indiana Pacers on October 28, shows his point. Maxey scored 27 points in that victory, taking over late after encouragement from his star teammates.
Barkley was blunt in his analysis before the Sixers-Pacers game. He declared the team's offensive pecking order must start with Tyrese Maxey, followed by Jaylen Brown, with LeBron James and Joel Embiid interchangeable after them. While acknowledging Embiid's importance, Barkley views the former MVPs as "insurance" for this squad.
"The Sixers are only going to go as far as Maxey takes them," Barkley said. "He does not have to defer to anybody, in my opinion. Maxey is the best player on the team." The two-time All-Star guard has averaged over 25 points per game during the team's hot opening stretch, which includes wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The team seemed to hear Barkley's advice. Against Indiana, Maxey started slowly and was fourth on the team in scoring through three quarters. That's when James, Embiid, and Brown pushed him to be more aggressive. Maxey responded by exploding for 17 points in the fourth quarter alone.
He finished the night with 27 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 36 minutes. That clutch performance sealed the 114-109 win, improving the Sixers' record to 4-1. Their only loss so far was a 106-93 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on October 25.
Barkley's focus on team hierarchy came amid another storyline involving new Sixer Jaylen Brown. The Hall of Famer also recently told Brown and his former Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum to "shut the hell up and play," dismissing their ongoing public feud as media fodder. Barkley's overarching theme is clear: established stars need to align behind the team's top performer to win.
For Philadelphia, he believes that performer is unequivocally Tyrese Maxey. Barkley insists Maxey has to wear the leader's hat all season, regardless of who shares the court with him.
The Sixers have little time to rest. They host the New York Knicks at home on October 30, looking to avenge a tight 106-100 victory from October 20. Maintaining their 4-1 form will require Maxey to continue embracing the alpha role Barkley has prescribed. The early season schedule has been favorable, and capitalizing on it is important for playoff positioning. Fans can see the upcoming slate on our schedule page.
With a core of Maxey, Brown, James, and Embiid, the expectations are immense. Barkley's public challenge is a rallying cry for the entire organization. How Maxey handles this responsibility will define Philadelphia's ceiling.
