Adam Aaronson
@adamaaronson.bsky.social
Sixers beat writer for @phillyvoice.com
https://www.phillyvoice.com/staff-contributors/adam-aaronson/
https://www.phillyvoice.com/staff-contributors/adam-aaronson/
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Five years later, the 'Seven Sixers' recall the day 'everything was weird' and Tyrese Maxey began evolving into the franchise's leader
On Jan. 9, 2021, with only seven players available for the Sixers, a rookie guard named Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points in the first start of his professional career. The rest, as they say, is history.
www.phillyvoice.com
NEW: Five years ago today, rookie Tyrese Maxey scored 39 points in his first NBA start. A lot's happened since.
An oral history of the “Seven Sixers,” with those on the court the day “everything was weird” as Maxey’s evolution into a franchise's new leader began:
www.phillyvoice.com/philadelphia...
An oral history of the “Seven Sixers,” with those on the court the day “everything was weird” as Maxey’s evolution into a franchise's new leader began:
www.phillyvoice.com/philadelphia...
Reposted by Adam Aaronson
The Bulls’ involvement in this three-team trade, per sources:
OUT: Emmanuel Miller to Cleveland
IN: Two second-round picks, Dario Saric
Jevon Carter has also been waived.
OUT: Emmanuel Miller to Cleveland
IN: Two second-round picks, Dario Saric
Jevon Carter has also been waived.
February 1, 2026 at 4:26 AM
The Bulls’ involvement in this three-team trade, per sources:
OUT: Emmanuel Miller to Cleveland
IN: Two second-round picks, Dario Saric
Jevon Carter has also been waived.
OUT: Emmanuel Miller to Cleveland
IN: Two second-round picks, Dario Saric
Jevon Carter has also been waived.
New streak of times going through the turnstiles at City Hall without getting a notification that Paul George had been suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Policy: 1
February 1, 2026 at 4:38 AM
New streak of times going through the turnstiles at City Hall without getting a notification that Paul George had been suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Policy: 1
Joel Embiid spoke glowingly about Sixers VP of Athlete Care Simon Rice, who he said never stopped working to help him when it felt like everyone had given up.
“No one is ever going to mention his name and talk about him, but he's the guy.”
“No one is ever going to mention his name and talk about him, but he's the guy.”
Joel Embiid just spoke at length about how he went into this season feeling like it was a trial run for next year, learning how his knee responds to various things. He thinks this year is already a success based on what he’s been able to accomplish.
February 1, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Joel Embiid spoke glowingly about Sixers VP of Athlete Care Simon Rice, who he said never stopped working to help him when it felt like everyone had given up.
“No one is ever going to mention his name and talk about him, but he's the guy.”
“No one is ever going to mention his name and talk about him, but he's the guy.”
Joel Embiid just spoke at length about how he went into this season feeling like it was a trial run for next year, learning how his knee responds to various things. He thinks this year is already a success based on what he’s been able to accomplish.
February 1, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Joel Embiid just spoke at length about how he went into this season feeling like it was a trial run for next year, learning how his knee responds to various things. He thinks this year is already a success based on what he’s been able to accomplish.
Dominick Barlow wanted to be part of VJ Edgecombe’s postgame scrum, so he stood with us and pretending to hold a phone. I handed him mine (my audio quality will be way better with his wingspan). He asked VJ how it feels to be “such an elite athlete.”
Edgecombe: “Tiring, man.”
Edgecombe: “Tiring, man.”
February 1, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Dominick Barlow wanted to be part of VJ Edgecombe’s postgame scrum, so he stood with us and pretending to hold a phone. I handed him mine (my audio quality will be way better with his wingspan). He asked VJ how it feels to be “such an elite athlete.”
Edgecombe: “Tiring, man.”
Edgecombe: “Tiring, man.”
Tyrese Maxey on the 2001 Sixers:
“Around that time, I was almost one.”
“Around that time, I was almost one.”
February 1, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Tyrese Maxey on the 2001 Sixers:
“Around that time, I was almost one.”
“Around that time, I was almost one.”
Tyrese Maxey on Paul George: “First of all, we stand with Paul. We appreciate him.”
When the news broke, Maxey reached out to Jared McCain, Trendon Watford and Justin Edwards to let them know they needed to be ready (and he knew he didn’t need to give Kelly Oubre Jr. that message).
When the news broke, Maxey reached out to Jared McCain, Trendon Watford and Justin Edwards to let them know they needed to be ready (and he knew he didn’t need to give Kelly Oubre Jr. that message).
February 1, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Tyrese Maxey on Paul George: “First of all, we stand with Paul. We appreciate him.”
When the news broke, Maxey reached out to Jared McCain, Trendon Watford and Justin Edwards to let them know they needed to be ready (and he knew he didn’t need to give Kelly Oubre Jr. that message).
When the news broke, Maxey reached out to Jared McCain, Trendon Watford and Justin Edwards to let them know they needed to be ready (and he knew he didn’t need to give Kelly Oubre Jr. that message).
Sixers got a win here. In many games, this game was a glimpse at their strengths and weaknesses without Paul George moving forward.
Thoughts on that + rotation tweaks Nick Nurse made inside, plus Nurse’s most noteworthy comments about George’s suspension: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-pe...
Thoughts on that + rotation tweaks Nick Nurse made inside, plus Nurse’s most noteworthy comments about George’s suspension: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-pe...
Instant observations: Sixers escape with a late win, but Paul George's suspension looms large
For the Sixers, Saturday will not be remembered for a victory or a 25th anniversary reunion, but for a shocking suspension. Still, the Sixers did play a basketball game, and they were just barely able...
www.phillyvoice.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Sixers got a win here. In many games, this game was a glimpse at their strengths and weaknesses without Paul George moving forward.
Thoughts on that + rotation tweaks Nick Nurse made inside, plus Nurse’s most noteworthy comments about George’s suspension: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-pe...
Thoughts on that + rotation tweaks Nick Nurse made inside, plus Nurse’s most noteworthy comments about George’s suspension: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-pe...
Another win for the Sixers that probably could have been easier. Joel Embiid went for 40 points and played 39 minutes. A lot of rotation experimenting from Nick Nurse, more bad than good in terms of the results there IMO. Caps off a wild day for the organization. Story to come!
February 1, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Another win for the Sixers that probably could have been easier. Joel Embiid went for 40 points and played 39 minutes. A lot of rotation experimenting from Nick Nurse, more bad than good in terms of the results there IMO. Caps off a wild day for the organization. Story to come!
Joel Embiid has a 40-piece and he is receiving MVP chants.
February 1, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Joel Embiid has a 40-piece and he is receiving MVP chants.
Joel Embiid hits a three to get to 39 points, VJ Edgecombe follows it up with one of his own, and this game is just about over.
February 1, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Joel Embiid hits a three to get to 39 points, VJ Edgecombe follows it up with one of his own, and this game is just about over.
Big Tyrese Maxey three puts the Sixers up by six with 78 seconds left. Timeout New Orleans.
February 1, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Big Tyrese Maxey three puts the Sixers up by six with 78 seconds left. Timeout New Orleans.
The Sixers have Maxey, McCain and Edgecombe out there, and if they can that group should probably close the game. Barlow and Embiid out there with them; would expect Oubre back soon.
February 1, 2026 at 2:29 AM
The Sixers have Maxey, McCain and Edgecombe out there, and if they can that group should probably close the game. Barlow and Embiid out there with them; would expect Oubre back soon.
Jared McCain just hit his fourth three, and it can't be said enough how well he is playing off of Joel Embiid. Pairing him with Embiid as much as possible could be what turns around his season.
February 1, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Jared McCain just hit his fourth three, and it can't be said enough how well he is playing off of Joel Embiid. Pairing him with Embiid as much as possible could be what turns around his season.
Joel Embiid is out there to start the fourth quarter; playing the entire final frame would get him to 39 minutes.
February 1, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Joel Embiid is out there to start the fourth quarter; playing the entire final frame would get him to 39 minutes.
After three: Pelicans 81, Sixers 87.
Sixers slipped in that third quarter, only managing 20 points. They might open this fourth quarter with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey both off the floor.
Sixers slipped in that third quarter, only managing 20 points. They might open this fourth quarter with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey both off the floor.
February 1, 2026 at 2:14 AM
After three: Pelicans 81, Sixers 87.
Sixers slipped in that third quarter, only managing 20 points. They might open this fourth quarter with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey both off the floor.
Sixers slipped in that third quarter, only managing 20 points. They might open this fourth quarter with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey both off the floor.
Halftime: Pelicans 54, Sixers 67.
The Sixers have a healthy lead after a strong second quarter. Joel Embiid has 23-8-3 in 20:17, he's 7-17 from the field and 9-9 on free throws.
The Sixers have a healthy lead after a strong second quarter. Joel Embiid has 23-8-3 in 20:17, he's 7-17 from the field and 9-9 on free throws.
February 1, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Halftime: Pelicans 54, Sixers 67.
The Sixers have a healthy lead after a strong second quarter. Joel Embiid has 23-8-3 in 20:17, he's 7-17 from the field and 9-9 on free throws.
The Sixers have a healthy lead after a strong second quarter. Joel Embiid has 23-8-3 in 20:17, he's 7-17 from the field and 9-9 on free throws.
A very positive stint of 7:51 for Jared McCain in the first half; he shot 2-3 (all three-point attempts) and grabbed an offensive rebound.
February 1, 2026 at 1:32 AM
A very positive stint of 7:51 for Jared McCain in the first half; he shot 2-3 (all three-point attempts) and grabbed an offensive rebound.
We have a double-big lineup, as Adem Bona joins Joel Embiid on the floor late in the second quarter.
February 1, 2026 at 1:25 AM
We have a double-big lineup, as Adem Bona joins Joel Embiid on the floor late in the second quarter.
A hustle play from VJ Edgecombe leads to a Jared McCain three which puts the Sixers ahead. Timeout New Orleans.
February 1, 2026 at 1:14 AM
A hustle play from VJ Edgecombe leads to a Jared McCain three which puts the Sixers ahead. Timeout New Orleans.
Jared McCain checks in at the 10:06 mark of the second quarter, giving the Sixers a 10-man rotation.
February 1, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Jared McCain checks in at the 10:06 mark of the second quarter, giving the Sixers a 10-man rotation.
After one: Pelicans 33, Sixers 31.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each lead the Sixers with eight points.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each lead the Sixers with eight points.
February 1, 2026 at 1:05 AM
After one: Pelicans 33, Sixers 31.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each lead the Sixers with eight points.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each lead the Sixers with eight points.
Trendon Watford joins the mix out of this timeout, getting the Sixers to nine guys with Jared McCain presumably set to play shortly as well. Nurse going with one of the bigger lineups he's experimented with recently where Watford plays with two bigger guys (here: Walker, Bona).
February 1, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Trendon Watford joins the mix out of this timeout, getting the Sixers to nine guys with Jared McCain presumably set to play shortly as well. Nurse going with one of the bigger lineups he's experimented with recently where Watford plays with two bigger guys (here: Walker, Bona).
Quentin Grimes and Jabari Walker checking in out of this timeout, replacing VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow.
February 1, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Quentin Grimes and Jabari Walker checking in out of this timeout, replacing VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow.
Absolutely sick bounce pass from Dominick Barlow to spring Tyrese Maxey there before Maxey found VJ Edgecombe for an alley-oop.
February 1, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Absolutely sick bounce pass from Dominick Barlow to spring Tyrese Maxey there before Maxey found VJ Edgecombe for an alley-oop.