Key Highlights
- Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in minutes played with an average of 39.9 per game.
- Maxey’s impressive performance has earned him praise from his coach and teammates.
- The Sixers’ heavy minutes approach involves multiple players, including Maxey, Edgecombe, McCain, and Grimes.
- Nurse coaches the team to handle their high-minute load with strategic rotations and recovery techniques.
Maxey’s Heavy Minutes: A Test of Physical and Mental Endurance
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey is no stranger to heavy minutes. Leading the NBA in total minutes played at an average of 39.9 per game, Maxey has been a cornerstone of the Sixers’ success this season. His relentless energy and consistent play have earned him admiration from his coach and teammates alike. Coach Doc Rivers, formerly with the 76ers and now coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, highlighted Maxey’s physical conditioning. “That’s conditioning, too,” he said while commending Maxey for a recent game against the Golden State Warriors. “If you’re tired mentally or physically, you can’t make that play.”
Maxey’s Prolific Play
Entering Thursday, Maxey was leading the NBA in minutes played with 39.9 per game, three more than Austin Reeves of the Los Angeles Lakers, who averages 36.9 minutes in 21 games. This high-minute load has included performances such as playing the entire second half and overtime of a Nov. 20 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he scored a career-high 54 points. In another game, Maxey played more than 52 minutes during a double-overtime loss to the Orlando Magic, nearly exceeding the typical NBA game length by four minutes. Nurse’s top players racking up heavy minutes has become a trademark of his coaching approach, with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet leading their respective teams in consecutive seasons.
Maxey’s Recovery Routine
Despite the high demand on his body, Maxey attributes his performance to a combination of physical fitness, mental fortitude, and recovery techniques. Alexander Reeser, a sports performance consultant, has played a significant role in building foundational strength and conditioning programs that push Maxey to his limits daily. Maxey also dedicates considerable time to early morning on-court workouts and sometimes participates in three sessions per day.
Last season, he emphasized the importance of recovery, aiming to balance high performance with career longevity. Nurse noted that Maxey’s routine between games has become minimal due to his efficient play during game days.
Team Strategy and Future Outlook
The Sixers’ new offensive strategy is built around their four rotation guards: Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Seth Curry, and Tyrese Maxey. Their ability to score, push the pace, and pass in various lineup combinations has been critical for the team’s success so far. However, recent injuries have affected some players, such as Edgecombe with a calf injury.
The team’s heavy minutes approach requires strategic rotations from Nurse. He noted that Maxey often requests to play longer stretches, saying, “Coach, let me go.” Despite this, Maxey sometimes takes advantage of timeouts to sit and rest, managing his energy levels effectively. As the Sixers navigate their tight games and close moments, Maxey’s performance remains a crucial factor in the team’s success. With key players returning from injury, Nurse hopes to distribute playing time more evenly while maintaining high performance standards.