Jason Burgos
While it seems like the entire basketball world knows Tyrese Maxey is the Philadelphia 76ers’ best player, Nick Nurse apparently doesn’t, and his decision to let his veterans lead the way in Game 3 versus the New York Knicks should cost him his job next week.
On Friday night, the 76ers were in a must-win situation. They were down 2-0 in their semifinal series against the Knicks and had to deal with an environment in Xfinity Mobile Arena that seemed to have just as many, if not more, New York fans. Yet, Nurse had the horses to get a win and avoid a 3-0 hole, especially with Joel Embiid back on the floor.
There is no doubt that the 76ers are better off with Embiid on the floor. The seven-time All-Star commands respect on both sides of the court, even in this diminished version. However, the 2025-26 season confirmed an undeniable fact: Maxey is the No. 1 option on offense and always should be. Yet the Sixers head coach somehow hasn’t gotten the memo.
Where was Tyrese Maxey on Friday night?
Beyond being the fifth-highest per-game scorer in the NBA this season, Nurse had enough evidence specifically against the Knicks to have Maxey as the focus in Game 3. The two teams split their four games during the regular season, and Games 1 and 2 of this series were very different.
With Embiid being a focal point in the opener, they were blown out by 40 points. With Embiid sidelined and Maxey leading the way, Game 2 was close throughout, and overuse of his starters was likely the difference between a win and a loss on Wednesday. As good a defense as the Knicks have, Maxey gives them the same problems he does the rest of the NBA. He is a fantastic mix of lightning speed and finesse.
This is Tyrese Maxey’s team now. Yet, in the most important game of the 2025-26 season, Nurse wanted his 76ers to play like this is 2022-23.
On Friday night, the two-time All-Star led not just the 76ers, but all players in Game 3 in minutes with 44. Yet, in the most bizarre statistic of the night, he took the fourth most shots on his own team. Paul George looked like he was 36 years old as he led the team with 18 shots, Embiid had 17, and Kelly Oubre — who averaged just 10 a game during the season — hoisted it up 16 times on Friday. Maxey had 12 shots in Game 3.
Nick Nurse cost himself his 76ers job in Game 3 versus Knicks
Furthermore, it was clear that neither George nor Embiid was on a heater by halftime, because they both ended up being outscored by Oubre on Friday, as he led the 76ers with 22 points in their crushing 108-94 loss to the Knicks in Game 3.
It is mind-blowing that as the Knicks gained a stranglehold on the game in the second quarter, Nurse did not pull his team to the bench and demand the offense run through Maxey, his best player and scorer.
Maxey can certainly take some blame for not asserting himself and demanding the ball. But he is still only 25 years old, and it’s no surprise he would acquiesce to a pair of NBA greats in a big game. That is where Nurse must show the guts and leadership to get his veterans on board with what is best for the team in this instance.
Nurse was already feeling some heat in his third season as head coach of the 76ers. However, his coaching in Game 3 proves that — barring a history-breaking comeback to win this series — he is not the man to lead this team to the next level and will be out as head coach next week.
