Tyrese Maxey Calls Out His 76ers Teammate's Defense

As one of the team's leaders, Maxey regularly communicates with his teammates. He has even started advising the younger players, including sophomore center Adem Bona.

During his rookie campaign in the 2024-25 season, Bona was impressive across the 58 games he played. His standout trait was his ability to block shots, as he averaged 1.2 blocks a night. Considering he only played 15.6 minutes per game, that is an impressive statistic for the young center.

Maxey Wants Bona to Stay Calm on Defense

As a younger player who's only entering his second NBA season, Bona is eager to prove himself. He loves blocking shots, but that could be a problem for him. His opponents would become more receptive and would adjust to his shot-blocking instincts.

That could lead him to getting into foul trouble, which will hamper the 76ers' chances of winning. Since Joel Embiid is still struggling with injuries, Bona is crucial for Philly's 2025-26 season.

Now, Maxey believes that Bona must fix that issue with his play style. He knows the center loves blocking shots, but sometimes, it would be better to contest the shot without being too aggressive.

"I think he’s been playing really good. The only problem I have with Bona is stop fouling. ‘Stop fouling, dude,'" Maxey said after the 76ers' game against the Orlando Magic.

"He’s like, ‘The ball was right there in front of me. So I reached.’ No, don’t do that. But he’s been doing good, really well.”

The 76ers are Under Pressure to Perform in the 2025-26 Season

Now that the 76ers are headed into the 2025-26 season, they want to redeem themselves after the horrible 2024-25 campaign. Maxey is motivated to keep pushing and help the 76ers compete against the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

In the 2025-26 season, the East is wide open because the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers are without their superstar players. Of course, the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers remain the favorites for the season.

However, the 76ers could be one of the teams that are dark horses. The same goes for teams such as the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, and the Detroit Pistons, who all have bright futures.

If the 76ers continue to follow Maxey's competitive drive, and they get healthy with Embiid and George, there is a promising campaign ahead for Philadelphia. It will be challenging, but with Maxey's leadership and the role players like Bona standing out, this could be a campaign to remember for the Sixers.