Tyrese Maxey: Entering NBA season, not planning for absence

The Philadelphia 76ers have struggled with a record of 12-22 in games without their star player, Joel Embiid, who is recovering from meniscus surgery. Monday’s victory marked the third occasion this season where they have managed to win two consecutive games without him.

Despite the team’s hope for Embiid’s return next month, Tyrese Maxey emphasized the importance of establishing a team identity in his absence. Maxey pointed out the challenges of adjusting rotations and minutes when facing unexpected absences, especially for a key player like Embiid.

“Going into the NBA season you don’t plan to not have somebody,” Maxey said. “I mean, especially an MVP like Jo. So once you get into that situation, you have to kind of reconstruct things. Reconstruct minutes, reconstruct rotations and all of that takes time.”