LeBron James Praises Tyrese Maxey After Lakers Edge 76ers in Philadelphia Thriller

The Los Angeles Lakers escaped Philadelphia with a hard-fought 112–108 victory on Sunday night, but while LeBron James once again stole the show in the clutch, he made sure to give flowers to Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers’ rising star.

Maxey, who’s quickly establishing himself as one of the NBA’s elite guards, was relentless against Los Angeles. The 24-year-old nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 28 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds in a performance that kept the Sixers within striking distance until the final moments.

LeBron James, who has trained with Maxey during past offseasons, couldn’t help but admire the young guard’s growth.

“I would guarantee his pace is a lot faster than my pace these days,” LeBron joked postgame. “But I love the success and the humbleness that Tyrese plays with, and that starts with his family. He’s taking full advantage of his opportunity, and he’s made the most of it. I love his game—but I love him as a person even more. And that’s tough to do because of how great he is on the court.”

Maxey, currently third in the NBA in scoring (31.6 points per game), has been a bright spot for Philadelphia despite their inconsistent season.

Still, the night belonged to LeBron. In a “vintage Bron” performance, as Luka Dončić put it, the 40-year-old forward took over down the stretch—scoring 10 straight Lakers points in the final minutes, capped by a cold-blooded three-pointer with 27 seconds left to seal the win. After the dagger, LeBron celebrated with a mix of his iconic “silencer” and “crown” gestures, later admitting, “I meshed it for the first time in my life.”

LeBron James finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while also surpassing Robert Parish for second on the NBA’s all-time wins list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Even opponents couldn’t help but admire the moment. “It was a GOAT moment,” said Deandre Ayton. “I stopped celebrating just to watch him. You could feel it—the whole arena did.”

For one night in Philadelphia, it was the perfect blend of past and future—LeBron’s enduring greatness meeting Maxey’s unstoppable rise.