Doc Rivers Can’t See Tyrese Maxey Returning Any Time Soon For Sixers

CAMDEN, N.J.–The Philadelphia 76ers have been missing Tyrese Maxey since Nov. 18 when he suffered a left foot fracture in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The young man out of Kentucky has since missed 12 games as he continues to recover from the injury.

There was some hope that Maxey could return during this long 7-game homestand before Christmas and Joel Embiid was excited to have him return to the team.

However, per coach Doc Rivers, it appears that Maxey will be out longer than expected.

“He’s nowhere near what we thought,” said Rivers at practice on Thursday.

Rivers mentioned that there were some steps that he would have to overcome in order to truly play and get on the floor, but he is not where he needs to be just yet.

“Whatever he has to do, he’s nowhere near it,” Rivers added. “I would say he’s out at least, I don’t know, at least a couple more weeks, and I’m making that up, but I can’t imagine him playing any time in the next couple of weeks.”

When he was asked what Maxey was able to do in practice on Thursday, the coach kept it simple.

“Nothing is the answer,” he stated. “He could shoot. He could run straight line, but that’s it. We gotta be patient.”

Maxey is a guy who relies so much on his speed and being able to cut and shake a guy out of his shoes. If he is not able to get out there and be who he is, there is not much reason to have him play. Especially, with the team winning and them getting a lot of production from others.

“He can sprint straight,” Rivers finished. “He just can’t cut you or he can’t stop. It may get better in three days or five to six days, but I don’t see that happening is what I’m saying. This is an uneducated guess, but I just can’t imagine them playing any time soon.”

The Sixers will take on the Golden State Warriors on Friday to continue the homestand.