The Philadelphia guard caught the ball on the right wing. Jab step. Baseline drive. Just when Lue thought he had cut him off, Iverson crossed between his legs, stepped back, and rose for a mid-range jumper in front of the Lakers’ bench.
Nothing but net.
Lue tried to contest the shot, but there was nothing he could do.
As he turned to the basket to watch the ball go through the hoop, he fell at Iverson’s feet. Nicknamed 'The Answer' for his ability to deliver in crunch time moments, he looked down at Lue and stepped over him - an image frozen in NBA history. During his decade in Philadelphia, he became a franchise icon.
Iverson still holds multiple team records. He has the most points in franchise history, the highest points per game career average, and the most steals in franchise history, just to name a few. Until late February 2026, he also held the record for the most three-pointers made.
The legendary scorer drained 885 triples in 722 games with the Sixers. Until Tyrese Maxey, the sixth-year guard, broke the record. Broke might be an understatement. He shattered it. It took Maxey 375 games - nearly half the time - to rewrite the history books!
“Once I heard about the approaching milestone, I definitely wanted to do it at the crib,” Maxey said postgame. “I think the fans are a big part of my success. I’m very thankful to all the fans. Philadelphia, we have a special connection. And to wear these Iverson-era black jerseys, that’s fun.
"A.I. is somebody we’ve all looked up to – someone I’ve looked up to, being a small guard. To be able to pass him in anything in basketball, that’s cool. To have my name next to his, it’s a blessing.”
A remarkable achievement that nobody saw coming a few years ago. Maxey was born in Texas and emerged as one of the most prosperous high school players in the state. By his senior year, he was considered a five-star recruit and one of the best in the nation.
Tyrese had scholarship offers from the most prestigious basketball programs, but ultimately chose to attend the University of Kentucky.
In his lone season in Lexington, Maxey shot just 29.2% from beyond the arc and netted 33 three-pointers in 31 games.
He wasn’t known for his shooting ability – he was an all-around player skilled to score at all three levels, but his true shooting ability actually raised concerns once Maxey declared for the NBA draft in 2020.
His inconsistency and lower three-point percentage could have been the reason Maxey slid in the draft a little. Originally projected to be a top 14 lottery pick, he was still available when the 76ers were on the clock, selecting the 21st pick.
The leadership chose Tyrese. During his rookie season, he showed promise, but didn’t get regular minutes. He averaged eight points per game in 15 minutes and shot 30% from three. It took him six NBA games to connect on his first triple in his professional career.
His inaugural season in Philly wasn’t spectacular. However, Maxey did showcase his potential. In January 2021, the 76ers got hit with a COVID-19 outbreak. A bunch of positive tests left the roster depleted.
The rookie just turned 20 years old, but was the only available ball-handler at the time. So, Maxey made his first NBA start, and there was no way he was going to let his opportunity to shine slip away. Tyrese burst out for a career-high 39 points and proved he belonged in the league.
That time, the Texas native played alongside Danny Green, a decorated veteran. And Green wasn’t a fan of not having Maxey on the floor with him.
“I had to play point guard,” Green said. “They subbed Tyrese out for 30 seconds, they pressed me, and I'm like, ‘Doc, I can't f*cking do this. You’ve got to get a point guard in.’”
Maxey barely got a break but didn’t mind at all. That night served as a cornerstone for his career and earned the organisation’s trust.
Maxey’s breakthrough didn’t make him complacent – it made him hungrier. After his rookie campaign concluded, Tyrese dedicated his offseason to improving his shooting skills. He worked tirelessly alongside his assistant coach, Sam Cassell.
“If every player in the league had his intensity and his work ethic - wow. This league is already great. If a team had 15 Tyrese Maxeys on their team - with his work ethic - that’d be a great team. Not a good team, but a great team,” said Cassell.
Since 2023, Cassell has served as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, but before he left, he helped transform Maxey into a lethal offensive weapon. Known for his basketball mastermind, he knew exactly how to challenge Tyrese to new heights.
And when the then-young prospect took a leap and blossomed, he was the only one not shocked by his tremendous growth and improvement. “The kid puts the work in, so his success doesn’t surprise me. It surprised all of y’all, but nothing he does on the basketball court surprises me.”
Maxey lifted his three-point shooting percentage by nearly 13% - after shooting 30% his rookie year, he shot 42.7 % during his second season in Philly. He also doubled his points per game average, going from eight to 17.5 points.
Not only did he become a starter, but he also cemented himself as a key piece of the team. At the beginning of his third season, he made a career-high nine threes in a single game, tying the franchise record held by Dana Barros and Danny Green. Paul George matched the mark in January 2026.
After facing criticism for his shooting inconsistency, Maxey is now one of the best shooters in the league and a true franchise player whom Philadelphia fans adore.
This year, he averages 29.1 points per game – fourth-best mark in the league – along with 4.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field and 37.6 % from three. His current numbers earned Maxey his second All-Star selection, but his first one as a starter.
The best part is that Tyrese is only 25 years old, and he has already broken a record that was 10 years in the making, accomplished by one of the most famous, decorated, and highly-regarded players to ever compete in the NBA.
If Maxey stays with the 76ers and keeps his offensive arsenal going, he has a chance to achieve a milestone that might never get broken again.
Tough to believe he wasn’t labelled as a sharpshooter coming to the NBA. But anybody who knows Maxey knows that his weaknesses don’t stand a chance. His mentality and work ethic set him apart.
“I always said I was going to make it to the NBA, and I didn’t know what to expect,” Maxey said. “Someone asked me at All-Star weekend, ‘Did I expect to be an All-Star starter?’ And I was like, ‘No, man. I just worked.’
"I just work, work, work until I can’t work anymore. That’s just the mindset that I have.”
The city that once had 'The Answer' found its new superstar. The last time the 76ers played in the NBA Finals was in 2001 - the year of Iverson’s iconic moment. Maxey now wants to take Philadelphia back and get in the history books again - this time, as an NBA champion.
