Point guard Tyrese Maxey is a true All-Star, whose rise has been remarkable—even though the last two seasons for the Sixers haven’t been the best. Could his training with LeBron James have something to do with it? This has been possible thanks to Rich Paul, an agent who represents both basketball players.
Maxey first trained with the King of the court before the draft. Since then, he trains with him every offseason, and the results are clearly visible. Against all odds, the young guard has impressively improved his game. That’s why he recently shared his thoughts about James.
A relationship built on admiration
According to The Sports Rush, in a segment of the podcast The Deep 3, Maxey revealed how he sees LeBron James today:
“This is going to sound weird, but it’s good, it’s normal now, you know what I’m saying? Like, I worked out with him the first time when I was 19. Now, seeing him like an older brother every summer—it’s always fun.”
When he was 19, Maxey probably had no idea he would train with an NBA legend. Now, he shares a brother-like relationship with the King of the court, and that bond has significantly benefited his career.
One of the things Maxey admires most about James is the fact that, at 40 years old, he still performs at a high level. When someone asked Maxey if he sees himself doing the same, he recalled a specific moment with LeBron.
Maxey explained that during one of their training sessions, coach Chris Johnson asked the players to do three dunks after practice—a ritual for them. Maxey went first and completed three straight dunks. But for LeBron James, it was different.
“I see Bron, and he says: ‘Throw it up! Throw it up!’ I said, ‘Nah man, you don’t have it anymore.'” Maxey said he tried to throw soft lobs near the rim to make it easier for James, considering his age, but the four-time champion rejected the help.
“No, he still wants to hammer it down, and I said: ‘Man, you’re crazy,'” he laughed.
