Maxey laughs through lowlight at fun first All-Star weekend appearance

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Tyrese Maxey now has one fun All-Star weekend night under his belt.

And as far as his performance at Friday's Rising Stars Challenge in Cleveland … well, he tends to make the shots that matter.

As part of a multi-event evening, Maxey teamed up with Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes in the Clorox Clutch Challenge. The goal was to hit shots from five locations in the fastest possible time, but Maxey and Barnes somehow went a combined 0 for 6 from close range.

They laughed though the meaningless misses.

After he and Maxey both played 40 minutes Thursday in the Sixers' win over the Bucks, Georges Niang was tuned in.

Niang at least got to see fellow Iowa State product Tyrese Haliburton win the Clutch Challenge along with Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane.

Before his last-place finish, Maxey made sure to highlight the “PHILA” on his chest at the beginning of the night.

He played for the team coached by Lakers legend James Worthy and surprisingly took (and lost) the opening tip-off. Maxey has said he’d be willing to back up Joel Embiid if asked, but another tip-off likely isn’t in his NBA future. Embiid, who watched Friday’s action courtside, is set to start Sunday night’s All-Star Game. 

Villanova product Saddiq Bey blocked a potential game-winning three-pointer by Jalen Green and Bane beat Team Worthy with two foul shots to clinch a 50-49 victory. Though Maxey was full of enthusiasm on the bench and adopted an unselfish approach on the floor, he was scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting. 

Maxey obviously did not mind the final stat line.

The Rick Barry-led team won the four-team mini-tournament. Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham earned MVP honors. 

There’s plenty in front of Maxey, including the final 24 games of this regular season and his first on-court action with new teammate James Harden, who will sit out the All-Star Game as he rehabs his left hamstring.

The Sixers hope the 21-year-old will be back at All-Star weekend down the line and think he's capable of reaching that level. 

“Tyrese absolutely has a chance to be an All-Star in this league,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said Tuesday at the introductory press conference for Harden. “Obviously there’s a lot of work (needed), but I know he’ll put it in. That’s one thing that’s amazing about Tyrese — like James said, his confidence, but also his commitment to put the work in has been incredible.”

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