76ers' Tyrese Maxey Attends Kentucky vs. Penn Matchup

Originally posted on Philadelphia 76ers on SI
By Justin Grasso | Last updated Dec 9, 2023 4:43 PM ET

Seconds after concluding his postgame press conference following a Philadelphia 76ers win over the Atlanta Hawks, Tyrese Maxey offered a final parting message to reporters:

“Aye ya’ll, go watch the Kentucky game!” said Maxey.

On Saturday afternoon, Maxey’s alma mater, Kentucky, was in town to face the University of Pennsylvania at Maxey’s pro-home court, the Wells Fargo Center.

Being in town for the next few days as the Sixers remain home for a two-game stretch, Maxey unsurprisingly sat courtside to see the No. 16 ranked Wildcats take on the 6-4 Quakers. When cameras were on Maxey to display the guard on the Jumbotron, he received a notable reception.

Maxey’s time at Kentucky was short-lived. As the Texas-born guard entered the NCAA as one of the best hoopers in the nation, he was viewed as a potential one-and-done prospect throughout his freshman season.

In 31 games, Maxey picked up 28 starts while averaging 34 minutes on the court. He produced 14 points per game, along with dishing out three assists and coming down with four rebounds per game.

Following an impressive debut season with Kentucky, Maxey entered the 2020 NBA Draft, where he hoped to become a lottery pick. While Maxey slid past the lottery, he landed in the Sixers’ laps at selection No. 21. Daryl Morey and Philly’s front office struck gold, landing themselves a potential year-four All-Star.

Whether he acquires the All-Star nod or not, Maxey remains a face of the Sixers’ franchise these days. As he’s become the Sixers’ starting point guard, filling in the shoes of the ten-time All-Star guard James Harden, who was traded away at the beginning of the year.

This article first appeared on Philadelphia 76ers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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