4 wins and 0 losses, first in the Eastern Conference! Maxi transformed into a super giant: averaging 37+8 hits per game

Behind by up to 19 points, they finally defeated the Wizards 139-134. The 76ers ranked first in the Eastern Conference with 4 wins and 0 losses. The 24-year-old Maxi had another hot performance. He scored 39 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in this game. In the first four games of the new season, he scored 35+ points three times and averaged 37.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. He has become another giant-level star in the league.

This season is Maxi's sixth season in the NBA, and he is improving every season. As the No. 21 pick in 2020, Maxey was a backup guard for the team in his rookie season. He has continued to transform since his second season. In the 2023-24 season, he was selected for the All-Star Game and won the Most Improved Player award. In the process of Maxi's transformation, Harden once acted as a mentor beside him. Harden joined the 76ers in the middle of the 2021-22 season and played in Philadelphia for one and a half seasons.

Maxi averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists per game in the 2021-22 season, and 20.3 points and 3.5 assists per game in the 2022-23 season. As Harden's backcourt partner, Maxey learned a lot from the Beard. When Harden left Philadelphia in the summer of 2023, Maxey finally released his energy and became an All-Star point guard.

The 76ers were plagued by injuries last season. Maxey only played 52 games before being sidelined for the season due to a tendon injury in his right finger. This season, Maxi, who has returned to health, has been on full fire from the first game.

The 76ers narrowly defeated the Celtics 117-116 in the opening game. Maxey scored 40 points and 6 assists, and made 7 of 9 three-pointers. On October 26, the 76ers defeated the Hornets 125-121. Maxi contributed 28 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. On October 28, the 76ers defeated the Magic 136-124. Maxey scored 43 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists. On October 29, the 76ers played back-to-back games and defeated the Wizards 139-134 in overtime. His touch declined, making 11 of 25 shots and 3 of 9 three-pointers. However, he made 14 of 16 free throws, scoring 39 points and 10 assists.

Maxi is evolving into a ball-carrying core. He is no longer just a scorer. His organizational skills have also made great progress. Maxi's growth path is really similar to Harden's. Harden first played as a shooting guard and was good at offense. Later, after D'Antoni's transformation, his organizational skills were greatly improved, and he even became the league's season assist leader. This season, Maxi's improvement in organizational skills is visible to the naked eye. He averaged 8.3 assists per game, ranking eighth in the assists list this season, and he averaged 37.5 points per game, ranking second in the scoring list behind Doncic's 46.0 points per game.

In this battle, the 76ers trailed by 16 points entering the fourth quarter. Maxi hit the basket and scored as soon as he came up, blowing the 76ers' offensive horn. With 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the 76ers were still 13 points behind 109 to 122. Maxi fouled and made two free throws, assisted Oubre to score a mid-range shot, and then made consecutive free throws himself, scoring 7 points in a row. He also assisted Grimes to score two three-pointers to tie the score.

With 38.7 seconds left in the final quarter, Maxey assisted Grimes to hit a three-pointer that tied the score, and Boehner then blocked McCollum's layup, dragging the game into overtime.

Maxi scored 15 points in the final quarter, sent out 3 assists, and helped his teammates score 8 points. The 76ers launched a 32-16 offensive wave in the fourth quarter to tie the score. Obviously, Maxey is the key figure in the 76ers' reversal. Maxey also dominated the overtime, scoring 9 points alone, the 76ers scored 13 points in overtime, and the Wizards scored 8 points in overtime. Maxey scored 1 more point than the entire Wizards team in overtime.

Maxi has evolved too much. NBA reporter Kelly Iko forwarded Maxi's data from the first four games of this season and wrote: "Is it possible for Maxi to win the Most Improved Award again?" In the 2023-24 season, Maxi was elected the Most Improved Player.

In addition, Maxey scored a total of 150 points in the first 4 games of this season, becoming the fourth guard in NBA history to score at least 150 points in the first 4 games of the season. The previous three were Jordan, Jerry West and Wei Shao. (Text/Li Huanyu)