Philadelphia 76ers guard, Tyrese Maxey, joins JJ Redick and Tommy Alter to discuss his new friendship with JJ, staying positive during tough times, learning from trade request situations, growing as a shooter and scorer, playing with Joel Embiid, his time at Kentucky, and more.
Tyrese Maxey attributes his improved shooting percentage to getting more reps and practicing different shots.
Maxey emphasizes the importance of adaptability and maintaining a level-headed mindset in uncertain situations.
Maxey embraces challenges as opportunities for personal growth and aims to be the best version of himself on the court.
Maxey highlights the importance of practicing specific shooting scenarios and adapting to different playing styles.
Deep dives
Improving Confidence and Shooting Percentage
Tyrese Maxey has steadily improved his shooting percentage, going from 29% in college to over 43% last season. He attributes his improvement to getting more reps, practicing different shots, and being comfortable in his role on the team. Maxey mentions the importance of not letting outside criticisms affect his confidence and ensuring that he is always working to be the best version of himself as a player.
Dealing with Uncertainty and Adapting to Roles
Maxey discusses how he has had to navigate uncertain situations throughout his career, from a shortened college season to changes in his role on the team. He emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and maintaining a level-headed mindset. Maxey shares his experiences of starting, coming off the bench, and playing with different combinations of teammates. He has learned to focus on making the right plays and contributing to the team's success no matter what his role may be at any given time.
Embracing the Challenge and Personal Growth
Maxey embraces the challenges he has faced throughout his basketball journey and approaches them as opportunities for personal growth. He acknowledges the mental and emotional toll that uncertainty and trade rumors can have, but also recognizes that it is a part of the business. Maxey aims to continue improving his skills, pushing himself to be the best version of himself on the court, and ultimately leaving no room for doubt or what-ifs. He aspires to reach the level of top players in the league and make a positive impact for his team.
Shooting Development and Practice
Maxey explains that he didn't make any major changes to his shooting mechanics, but focused on getting more reps and practicing shots from different scenarios. He highlights the importance of practicing with specific situations in mind, such as catching passes from teammates in challenging angles and adapting to a variety of game situations. Maxey also mentions the influence of playing alongside players like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, which required him to practice and make reads based on their specific playing styles and passes.
Importance of Shooting and Rhythm in Basketball
The podcast episode discusses the complexity of shooting in basketball and highlights the importance of rhythm. The speaker emphasizes that as players progress to higher levels, shooting becomes more complicated and can be influenced by confidence, consequences, and rhythm. They explain that players can be confident on the court but still struggle with rhythm, causing them to pass up shots. The speaker also shares a personal experience of feeling the pressure to make a shot in a crucial game, highlighting the impact of rhythm on performance.
The Draft Night Experience and Its Emotional Impact
The podcast episode delves into the emotional rollercoaster of draft night for professional athletes. The speaker shares their personal experience of being drafted lower than expected, expressing their feelings of disappointment and frustration. They also discuss the psychological impact of dropping in the draft and how it can affect a player's mindset. The speaker reflects on the draft process and speculates on potential factors, such as overthinking by organizations during the COVID period. Despite the initial disappointment, they express gratitude for their current team and the opportunity to play for a winning organization.
Growth and Leadership of Joel Embiid
The podcast episode highlights the growth and leadership of Joel Embiid, a player on the Philadelphia 76ers. The speaker describes how Embiid's leadership style has evolved over the years, from being less vocal to now being supportive and communicative with teammates, even rookies. They emphasize Embiid's positive attitude and belief in his teammates, empowering them to be their best. The speaker reflects on Embiid's growth as a leader and the impact it has on both individual players and the team as a whole.
We are so psyched to welcome in Philadelphia 76ers guard, Tyrese Maxey today. Tyrese was such an awesome interview and we're really grateful that he sat down with us. Let's get to it. Topics include: JJ gives his take on the 76ers chances at a championship and Embiid's chances at MVP, then Tyrese comes on to talk about his new friendship with JJ (and why he recently gave JJ a cold shoulder), how he stays positive during tough times on the 76ers, how he's handled the James Harden trade request situation and what he's learned from The Ben Simmons trade request situation, how he's grown as a shooter and scorer, learning how to play with Joel Embiid, how Joel has grown into a wonderful leader for the 76ers, his time at Kentucky with John Calipari, learning from crucial playoff losses, how it's been with Nick Nurse so far and much more.
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