The Philadelphia 76ers are directing their attention towards Tyrese Maxey as their new team leader following Joel Embiid’s ongoing struggles with injuries. After Embiid’s knee surgery and recent physical setbacks, the Sixers are recalibrating their approach for the upcoming season, prioritizing guard depth and leadership from Maxey.

Joel Embiid’s career has been marked by both impressive highs and debilitating lows, particularly around his physical and mental health. Last week, ESPN’s Dotun Akintoye released an in-depth profile highlighting Embiid’s long battle with trauma and injury, underscoring the immense pressure placed on him by the franchise. Embiid’s performances when healthy have shown the Sixers’ potential as championship contenders, but his absences demonstrate how precarious that success can be.

Embiid’s Burden and the Pressure to Perform Despite Injury

Embiid’s career plus/minus statistics—such as the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals where he was +90 with the team on the floor and -109 when off it—illustrate his influence on the Sixers’ fortunes. He has consistently been the central figure carrying the team’s success and failure. However, his repeated knee injuries, especially the recent meniscus surgery, have forced the organization to reconsider how much they rely on him.

Embiid expressed the emotional toll this pressure exacts, sharing with Akintoye the difficult position he faces when considering injury recovery and team expectations.

“It’s basically damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Because if you don’t play, then, you know, there’s this whole narrative. … I never cared about the ‘soft’ comments,”

Embiid said.

“All I cared about was the team and my teammates. I never wanted to feel like I was quitting on them. And obviously, that goes back to the whole thing in therapy about not wanting to disappoint people.”

As Embiid continues to recover, the Sixers acknowledge that anything he contributes this season will be a bonus, rather than an expectation. His contract, considered a sunk cost at this stage, no longer represents a guaranteed anchor for the team’s success.

Shifting Toward a Guard-Centric Team Led by Maxey

With the future uncertain for Embiid, the Sixers plan to build around their talented backcourt. Tyrese Maxey, along with promising players like Jared McCain, VJ Edgecombe, and potentially Quentin Grimes, provide the team with their deepest guard rotation in years. This shift is not only strategic due to Embiid’s injuries but also reflects the emerging leadership role Maxey is ready to adopt within the squad.

Maxey has already begun taking initiative off the court, focusing on team unity and bonding activities that extend beyond basketball. Sharing his approach with John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Maxey stated,

“I’ve been trying to reach out to guys and trying to help, I’ve just been kind of solo reaching out to guys, and then I’m gonna try to do a group thing at the end of the offseason. And it’s not even all about basketball, honestly. With me, I think the biggest thing is just getting to know each other, go grab something to eat, maybe go golf a little bit, maybe go play some laser tag.”

He emphasized the importance of health and continuity, adding,

“… I think the biggest thing for us is one, being healthy. I mean, you see it. The healthy team wins. You’ve gotta be really lucky, really good and really healthy to win. And just building that continuity. The more continuity that we build, I think the better we’ll be on the court.”

Maxey’s Growing Role as the Team’s Vocal Leader

Tyrese Maxey’s combination of talent and charisma has endeared him to both fans and the Sixers organization since he was drafted 21st overall in 2020. Beyond his on-court contributions, Maxey has become a central figure in maintaining team cohesion, even during the injury-plagued 2024-25 season. His increasing influence was evident last year when he reportedly confronted Embiid about his frequent tardiness during a players-only meeting.

Sixers legend Julius Erving publicly endorsed Maxey as the team’s next leader, signaling confidence in Maxey’s ability to carry the team forward. Erving remarked,

“I think [Tyrese] Maxey is my choice of being the leader. He had some health issues last year, but I think he’ll rise above that. He’ll be probably the best player on the team – the one who can play most consistently, night-in-and-night out – for 70-plus games.”

Joel Embiid’s Role Evolves Beyond Traditional Leadership

While Maxey steps into a vocal leadership position, Embiid’s role is expected to shift toward leading through his gameplay rather than verbal motivation. Embiid clarified his leadership style to Akintoye, explaining,

“I never wanted to be a vocal leader,”

and further shared,

“The way I was going to lead is my action. When I get on the court, whether it’s playing hard, carrying the team, doing whatever I have to do to put us in a position to win, that’s how I always saw myself as leading.”

Akintoye’s profile illustrated how Embiid’s guarded personality is shaped by a childhood where openness was limited. Embiid admitted,

“from the moment that I was really young, you could never really open up about anything.”

Nevertheless, he acknowledged personal growth in this area, saying,

“If you ask my teammates now, they’ll tell you a way different story than my teammates a couple years ago, because years ago, I was nowhere to be found.”

He attributed his reserved nature to early life lessons, stating he

“always taught myself to not trust anybody.”

This reserved demeanor makes it challenging to build a team around a more conventional type of leadership. However, it allows Embiid to contribute through his immense talent and on-court presence while Maxey fills the gap as the vocal motivator and emotional anchor for the team.</p>

The Road Ahead for the Sixers Under Maxey’s Leadership

Joel Embiid’s injuries have played a key role in the Sixers’ repeated postseason limitations since 2014, despite his status as one of the top players in the league. Understanding this reality, the Sixers no longer need to push him to assume leadership beyond what he is comfortable providing. Instead, the organization aims to leverage Maxey’s emerging role as the vocal leader while allowing Embiid to focus on his impact as a player.

The 2025 season will be a defining moment for Maxey as he embraces the role long hinted at by his teammates and respected veterans. With a deeper supporting cast than in any previous season of his career, Embiid now has more reliable help. The Sixers’ new direction prioritizes a healthy, cohesive guard unit led by Maxey, freeing Embiid to contribute when able without shouldering the entire burden.

This strategic pivot represents a significant shift in the team’s identity, signaling a fresh chapter in Philadelphia’s pursuit of NBA success. Tyrese Maxey’s rise as the Sixers team leader highlights the franchise’s adaptation to adversity and positions them to capitalize on the collective strength of their roster.