Tyrese Maxey offered rare insight into James Harden’s stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, praising the veteran guard for embracing a selfless role during their time together.

Speaking on The Deep 3 podcast, Maxey emphasized that while Harden’s sacrifice might not have been widely recognized, it played a significant part in the team’s growth and chemistry.

“The biggest thing I learned is—I know (James Harden), and I know people aren’t going to say he sacrificed, but he sacrificed,” Maxey said, via HoopsHype. “He gave up some of himself for the team, for the betterment of the team.”

Harden arrived in Philadelphia during the 2021-22 season via a trade from Brooklyn and immediately stepped into a role focused more on playmaking than scoring.

His impact was felt not just by Joel Embiid, who went on to win MVP in 2023, but also by Maxey, who emerged as a rising star in the backcourt.

“He got me a lot of easy shots,” Maxey continued. “From day one when he came in, the first thing he said to me was, ‘Listen, don’t think you’re not going to get the ball. Don’t think you’re not about to still be aggressive and keep building your game.’”

Harden’s transition from high-usage scorer to floor general was notable.

During the 2022-23 season, he led the league in assists per game (10.7) while averaging 21.0 points—well below his peak scoring years in Houston.

Maxey credited Harden’s unselfishness with helping him thrive offensively.

“His first instinct was always, whether we scored or didn’t, he was going to pitch it ahead to me—let me score in transition, play that one-on-one game, shoot—whatever the case may be,” Maxey said.

The synergy between Harden, Maxey, and Embiid helped Philadelphia to a 54-win season in 2022-23 and a trip to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.