This week has been filled with accolades for the 76ers, with a majority of them coming to Joel Embiid for his dominance in the month of January. However, Embiid isn’t the only 76ers player getting recognized during All-Star weekend. Tyrese Maxey has officially been nominated to the Rising Stars game.

There’s no doubt in the minds of 76ers fans that Tyrese Maxey has shown amazing improvement since being drafted a little over a year-and-a-half ago. Since taking over a starting role with the absence of Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey’s stats have jumped dramatically and it has been a breath of fresh air to watch the second year guard progress like he has through the first half of this year.

Maxey is currently averaging 16.8 points a game in his starting role, over double what he scored his rookie season. With Simmons out, Maxey has also been able to somewhat fill the facilitation void, jumping from 2 assists per game to nearly five this season.

Oh, and don’t forget Maxey is still under a turnover a game in his young career.

No stat truly captures Tyrese Maxey’s rapid development than his three point shooting ability. 76ers fans can recall how rough his outside jump shot looked early on in 2020, with many shots behind the arc even hitting the side of the backboard from the corner.

The stats don’t lie either, with Maxey’s three point percentage jumping from 30 to 40 percent, a staggering 10 point uptick in just one off-season’s time. Maybe he should give Ben Simmons some pointers as three off-seasons filled with shooting videos in the gym has clearly done nothing for him.

While his stats certainly jump off the page, there are many intangibles that show how quickly Tyrese Maxey has been able to show his superstar potential this season. Maxey has in many ways acted like the opposite of Ben Simmons, especially in the face of criticism.

Tyrese has not only put in the extra work to improve during the season, but has on multiple occasions responded to hard coaching in a positive light. That includes when Joel Embiid even got on him to take more shots in games during a post-game presser.

This year the NBA decided to switch up the format and turn the Rising Stars game into a tournament. In total 28 players were nominated, with 12 players in their rookie and sophomore season being selected along with four G league players.

Tyrese Maxey was one of the 12 nominated sophomores, and will be drafted on one of four teams that will compete in a three-game tournament.

Tyrese Maxey is more than deserving of the national spotlight this Rising Stars Tournament will bring. Fitting that after Maxey’s biggest win of his career over the third-seeded Grizzlies without Embiid that the former Wildcat would earn a spot on the Sophomore roster.

In case you missed that game, Tyrese Maxey scored a season-high 33 points in a win over Ja Morant and Memphis including the game-winning layup in the final 30 seconds of play. That win not only brought deserved attention to Tyrese, but propelled the 76ers to the second seed in the East, a game back from Chicago for the top spot.

There’s no denying it any longer, Tyrese Maxey will be a future star in the league for the 76ers. Now the whole world, 76ers fans, and I assume Joel Embiid courtside, will get to watch Maxey show exactly why he’s one of the best rising stars in the NBA.

Once February 18th rolls around, whatever team gets Tyrese Maxey in their backcourt should become an immediate favorite. The Association has been put on notice now, look out for the Golden Son.

Mandatory Credit: Kevin C. Cox.