NBA All-Star Weekend is still over two months away, but enough has transpired from both the Eastern and Western conferences to narrow down the list of All-Star Game selections. Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is planted squarely in that mix.
With the NBA’s new USA vs. World All-Star format set to debut in February, the league is once again in the familiar stage of sorting separation from noise. Even with structural changes to how rosters will be assembled, the pillars of validation remain the same.
In the Eastern Conference, the conversation also still circles around familiar faces like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell. But it seems the league has already reached the point where Maxey’s second career All-Star appearance is imminent.
Is Maxey a 2026 NBA All-Star Game Starter?
In ESPN’s survey of candidates, Maxey landed in the “near-lock” tier alongside Antetokounmpo, Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Mitchell.
For Maxey, the reality of him being the East’s current leading scorer (32.3 PPG) and third behind Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander represents the final evolution of his ascent.
Once viewed as the energetic complement to Joel Embiid’s interior dominance, Maxey now operates as the axis of Philadelphia’s offense.
Embiid’s availability has fluctuated. Paul George’s integration has produced uneven returns. Lineups have shifted, roles have stretched and the organizational footing has wobbled. Maxey has expanded his production.
Maxey’s long been graduated from the developmental process as the Sixers’ No. 21 overall pick in 2020. The newly- 25-year-old playmaker is one of the most elite that the game has to offer.
What separates Maxey from simply being a high-volume scorer is the manner in which defenses now treat him. Opponents shade coverage to his side before the first dribble. Bigs rise earlier at the level. Weakside defenders hug shooters tighter because help can no longer arrive late.
That’s why he’s firmly in the company of Antetokounmpo, who still defines the Milwaukee Bucks‘ entire shape. Brunson owns every fourth quarter for the New York Knicks. Mitchell anchors the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ playoff ceiling. Brown carries the Boston Celtics‘ scoring load with Jayson Tatum sidelined this year. Cunningham and Duren sit there because the Detroit Pistons‘ No. 1 Eastern Conference rise has revolved around them.
Maxey fits because Philadelphia’s offense no longer functions without him.
76ers Are In The Maxey Era
That confirmation matters deeply for a franchise drifting through uncertainty. While the 76ers remain tangled in questions surrounding health, hierarchy and long-term cohesion, Maxey has become the rare variable that no longer shifts week to week. His presence defines Philadelphia’s spacing. His pace defines its tempo. His scoring floor now defines its nightly competitiveness.
The irony is that Philadelphia’s record (10-9, No. 9 in the Eastern Conference) itself, may obscure just how complete his leap has become. Injuries and rotation turbulence have clouded optics. But league evaluators rarely confuse team instability with individual legitimacy. If anything, Maxey’s production under strain only strengthens his case.
This season has effectively moved him from the category of the 76ers’ future asset, to 76ers’ present – with many All-Star caliber performances in the tank.
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