Buddy Hield’s message in Tyrese Maxey pep talk that fueled 76ers’ Game 5 win

Hield knows that his voice carries weight with the 76ers, who maintain a strong unity no matter who gets the minutes. The positivity from the bench, as his pep talk with Maxey showed, can influence what happens in between the lines.

“We’re all listening together no matter who’s on the court, who’s not,” Hield said. “The goal is to try to get a win and move to the next round and we’re just trying to get that support that everybody needs. And he does the same thing when I’m on the court. We do it for everybody. Just give him confidence and that same support that we all do ’cause it’s tough on him, man.

“Especially being a 23-year-old, being on this stage and playing in The Garden and making plays. That shows the growth and how special he is,” Hield continued. He added that the series is going “only up for him from here.”

Before joining the 76ers, Hield spent years playing alongside De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, seeing what young lead guards deal with in their ascent to stardom and how they instantly take the role of the star that young hoopers aspire for. Maxey’s game is its own beast — and so is his work ethic, as Hield noted, becoming only the latest person to tout Maxey as an immensely hard worker.

“I think that he has very rare speed. He can shoot the lights out. He’s very confident. He works his butt off,” Hield said. I think that the games always reward players like that.”

Maxey, who has been vocal about role players like Hield when they’re able to step up in big moments, has had to grow up very quickly for this Sixers team. Becoming Joel Embiid’s co-star has tested him immensely. Winning the Most Improved Player award signifies the recognition he has rightly earned. But it’s also the testimony from teammates like Hield that illustrates the bright present Maxey has and the brighter future down the line.

Tne 76ers season is still on the line in Game 6. Tyrese Maxey will have to continue being great to get his team back to Madison Square Garden for Game 7. His teammates remain confident that he can come through.

“I just told him today, ‘Good ones respond to games like this,’” Hield said. “I know he’s gonna respond today.”