Even as James Harden arrives at training camp, Sixers must consider every option at point guard

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Tyrese Maxey described possessions during the 76ers’ first training-camp practice when he got into the paint with the ball, then kicked it out to teammates for open three-pointers.

And possessions when he delivered lob-and-pocket passes to big men Paul Reed and Mo Bamba.

And possessions when he worked on deciphering when it was time for him to score, instead of distributing the ball.

That is a glimpse inside Maxey’s life as the Sixers’ primarily ball handler, his role while James Harden was absent from the team’s first workout at Colorado State. That could continue to be Maxey’s situation — both in the short and long term — even now that Harden has joined the Sixers at camp. Though coach Nick Nurse and teammates Tobias Harris and Danuel House Jr. offered positive reviews of Harden’s physical shape and attitude, Harden’s past behavior and social-media posts suggest he could turn disengaged or openly disruptive while continuing to desire a trade.

» READ MORE: Sources: James Harden arrives in Colorado for Sixers training camp

So this is the time for Maxey to get a barrage of reps as the Sixers’ offense initiator. Ditto for Patrick Beverley and De’Anthony Melton, who could both be complementary point-guard options depending on Harden’s status.

“That’s it, really,” Nurse said following the Sixers’ first practice on Tuesday. “They’ve just got to get the reps of bringing it up the floor with their team. Are they going to [the] attack phase of our offense? Or are they going to pull back and get us into some sort of execution and, if so, what is that?”

It is virtually impossible to completely replace Harden’s exceptional court vision and playmaking production, after he led the NBA in assists last season (10.7 per game) for a Sixers offense that ranked third in the league in efficiency (117 points per 100 possessions) and produced Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid.

When the Sixers split up into three scrimmaging groups before Harden’s arrival, Nurse said, Maxey, Beverley, and Melton ran each of those units. With Harden back Wednesday, and 20 players available, the Sixers extended to four teams for offensive set work, Nurse said.

Maxey hopes this stretch can become a carryover from his summer work, after he averaged 20.3 points and 3.5 assists during his third NBA season. He shouted out some friends back home in the Dallas area — “they know who they are, and I appreciate them” — who helped him drill making proper reads and passes by becoming situational defenders during three-on-three and four-on-four work. Maxey also teamed up with Drew Hanlen, who is Joel Embiid’s personal trainer, to focus on ball handling and changing pace instead of solely relying on his blazing speed.

“He’s looking for the passes a lot more often, and I’m most of the time the beneficiary of it,” said Reed, who has been around Maxey since they were drafted together in 2021. “I like to see it, because now, I feel like, when the season starts … he’s going to make them same decisions and drop [the ball] off when need be.”

Maxey added that Melton — who said at media day he feels more athletic after dealing with a nagging back injury for much of last season — has looked more aggressive getting downhill with the ball and creating shots for himself and others. Maxey also praised Beverley’s veteran aptitude, such as the understanding of how to set up teammates in the right spot and when to take shots. Beverley averaged 6.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, and posted a career-high 4.6 assists with the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves in 2021-22.

“They know what I bring to the table,” Beverley said of his teammates following Tuesday’s practice. “It’s actually easy. It’s not even hard. … I’ve been fortunate to come to a good group.”

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid has to be better for the Sixers to keep up with the Celtics and Bucks. Does he get that?

Nurse understands there will be a learning curve with the non-Harden point guard options, especially while the coaching staff implements its initial systems and philosophies. Harden’s return — depending on how legitimate it turns out to be — could re-juggle roles. Beverley reminded that those ball handlers’ overall goal is simple: “You got to put the ball in the hole, and stop the other team from putting the ball in the hole. We’re not here to reinvent the wheel.”

And even with Harden back with the Sixers on Wednesday, a semi-unprompted Nurse called Maxey’s play during their second practice “unbelievable.”

“He had one of those days where nobody could catch him on anything,” Nurse said. “He was really providing a lot of juice for his team today, getting to the basket a lot, causing a lot of problems for some of the guys.”