Tyrese Maxey is fully aware of the narratives and doubts surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers, particularly questions about who should take a backseat and the sacrifices that need to be made for the team to succeed collectively.
In the end, the star guard claimed that there should be no room for ego in Philadelphia once the season begins.
"I think the biggest thing is we can't have anybody, nobody on this team can have an ego," Maxey told HoopsHype's Sam Yip when asked whether he and the rest of the 76ers have already settled on a pecking order for last-shot situations.
"We have two guys that have won regular-season MVPs, two guys that have won Finals MVPs, multiple gold medal winners on this team, multiple 25-plus points per game, All-Stars, All-NBA. We're all pretty accomplished. So the ego has to drop and you have to do it collectively."
Star-studded 76ers set to embrace adjustment, sacrifice to win it all
The Philadelphia 76ers constructed the most talented five-man lineup in the NBA this offseason, acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics and signing LeBron James as a free agent to join the team's star-studded core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
However, despite the staggering talent and potential they present, questions are swirling as to how every star player in Philly will be committed enough to take a step back.
Heading into the upcoming season, the 76ers will feature four NBA stars who averaged more than 20 points in the past NBA season. Maxey (28.3) and Embiid (26.9) have led the Sixers in scoring, while Brown ranked fourth in the league last year with his 28.7-point average.
James registered 20.9 points in his record-breaking 23rd NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers last year.
With an NBA championship as their ultimate goal, it will now be up to Maxey and his fellow 76ers stars to embrace the sacrifices and adjustments necessary to give themselves a stronger chance to win it all.