Former NBA champion warns 76ers about Tyrese Maxey's future

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tough position, and it might soon cost them.

Last season, the 76ers were expected to be near the top of the Eastern Conference and competing for a spot in the NBA Finals. Instead, Joel Embiid missed the majority of the season, while Paul George and Tyrese Maxey each dealt with their own injuries, leading to the 76ers’ demise.

While the team was bad enough to get the No. 3 pick and take V.J. Edgecombe, there is still no clarity on the team’s health and potential to bounce back. These recent developments have led many to criticize Daryl Morey and the 76ers as they move forward.

One of those critics is former NBA champion and ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins. On Thursday’s First Take, Perkins didn’t hold back about the franchise’s potentially grim future.

“They’re on the clock when it comes down to Tyrese Maxey,” Perkins said. “And when I say ‘on the clock,’ because if they keep trending in this direction of no culture and no stability, guess what? Tyrese Maxey is gonna want out of Philadelphia.”

Those are strong words from one of the strongest personalities in NBA media, but he’s likely correct. Considering how much power stars have in today’s league, the 76ers need to prove to Maxey that they can compete on a consistent basis and have stars on the floor around him.

As Embiid and George are both recovering from injuries, that isn’t a guarantee the 76ers are in a position to make anytime soon. Philadelphia will be leaning heavily on Maxey next season to keep the team afloat in a wide-open Eastern Conference, but that load could be more than the young star guard wants to handle, and it could lead to his eventual exit, as Perkins said.