NBA Draft Thursday, November 19, 2020 Bristol, Connecticut, USA Tyrese Maxey

It's been great having guys like LeBron and even Ben Q. I'm wondering what went through your head in that Simmons as older brothers and mentors. For someone big moment when your name was called tonight. like me, a rookie coming into the league, it's great to have those guys on your side. TYRESE MAXEY: The moment was -- I'm speechless about the moment. I was very thankful for the organization Q. We saw you get emotional after you were drafted, on taking a chance on me, and I just can't wait to get to talking about the moment. What's going through your work. mind in that moment as you're getting emotional? Is it all the hard work? Is it your dream coming true? Is it Q. I know you have a little bit of a connection to a all of the above? couple Sixers on the current roster. Why don't we start with . What's it been like to see him TYRESE MAXEY: You're right. It's all of the above. All working out in this offseason, and what's your the hard work and all the sacrifice that my parents have connection like? made for me. They've had to sacrifice so much in their lives and do different things. My siblings, uncle, my entire TYRESE MAXEY: It's been great. It's been great. I've family had to sacrifice just so I could do certain things and been watching him work out. He works out like right after I try to chase my dreams. For them to come true and for me was working out. So it's great to watch him and watch him to get an opportunity to show how hard I work and how get ready and work on his game. Ben's been doing really much I appreciate the game, it means a lot. well. I feel like shooting the ball well. It's great to meet him. I talked to him just a minute ago, and he just said be Q. A lot of guys say that the dream doesn't end here. ready to get to work. What can you bring to Philadelphia? What can you bring to the Sixers? Q. I know you also come from the same hometown as Zhaire Smith. Is that true? TYRESE MAXEY: In my opinion, I bring a competitive nature. I feel like I bring a winning spirit, as far as playing TYRESE MAXEY: Right, I do. competitive on the defensive end, and even on the offensive end, I feel like I can help run a team. I feel like I Q. What's your relationship like with Zhaire? can score on and off the ball and be a great asset to the team. TYRESE MAXEY: Zhaire is cool. It's crazy, man. His high school was five minutes away from my high school. We Q. So a lot of people had you going higher in this were rivals back in the day. It's going to be really cool. I draft. They expected you to at least be a lottery pick. can't wait to talk to him. So from your point of view, are you carrying that chip on your shoulder? And also as a follow-up, you have a Q. Tyrese, welcome to Philly. Tell me a little bit more lot of Kentucky guards that have kind of gone lower in about the connection you've got in this pre-draft the draft but then have really shown out, like Devin process. I guess you were working out in L.A. I saw a Booker or Tyler Herro. Are you using them as kind of tweet tonight from LeBron James. Clearly, you've an example as well? been on some of these guys' radar for a while. TYRESE MAXEY: Definitely, I use that. I think I always TYRESE MAXEY: You know, I think it's because -- I play with a chip on my shoulder just because that's just stayed consistent. I've been in the gym since May. I went how I am. I'm extremely grateful for where I ended up. I out to L.A. in May, and I've been there and working every feel like it's a great opportunity for me, and I'm very single day. I think everybody stops by, and I think they thankful for Philly for giving me this shot. I'm going to go always see me in there working and grinding. I think that's out there and give it 110 percent and give it my all and why we had that connection. make sure it's not a regret.

103058-2-1015 2020-11-19 06:00:00 GMT Page 1 of 3 They've been telling me to stay with it, keep grinding and Q. John Calipari has had a long string of guards who stay who I am, man. Keep up the personality. Just have successfully made that transition in the NBA. because you get drafted, that's not the end goal. It's just a What kind of advice did he give you about what you'll step in the building . I've been putting in this work. have to do to be successful? This is for December 22nd, when we step on the court to compete against other teams. TYRESE MAXEY: He told me just keep being myself. Keep being myself and work extremely hard and show Q. First of all, what are your expectations about your everybody what he already knows. Show everybody that I collaboration with Ben Simmons, . And can do multiple things and even more things than I was also what is the biggest motivation for you about next able to show at Kentucky. season?

Q. Which players did you sort of pattern your game TYRESE MAXEY: I think my biggest motivation for starting around? Or guys that you looked at and said, hey, with that is just getting 1 percent better and trying to help these are some elements that I want to take and use this team win. This team is in a really good position. They for my game as well? have guys, like you said, like and Ben, and they're in a winning situation. I feel like I can come in and TYRESE MAXEY: So when I grew to about 6-3, I started bring that winning mentality and bring that energy that can watching guys like CJ McCollum, the Jamal Murrays of the help us. league, the Jrue Holidays. Just because the league has changed so much, so these hybrid guards who were able Q. When did you realize during your season at to do multiple things and run a team and get their Kentucky that you were ready for the league? teammates involved and facilitate and score while they're playing on the ball, and also while they're off the ball, being TYRESE MAXEY: While I was at Kentucky, I didn't really able to do different things without having the ball in their focus on being at the league. My thing at Kentucky was, hands, that's something I take pride in. That's something you know, Coach Cal said he had a role for me to play I'll be able to do. there, and that's what I did. I wanted to win games, and I wanted to try to win a national title. That was the only thing Then I like to be competitive on the defensive end. Jrue that was on my mind at the University of Kentucky is trying Holiday, I think, is a great defender, and that's where I get to help your team win a national title, do whatever it takes, it from. do whatever Coach Cal needs you to do, and try to get better and work on your game, your overall game. No Q. I want to know, what do you think you'll bring to the matter what you have to do at Kentucky, work on your city? The city is known for its grit and toughness. overall game for the future. What do you think you'll bring to the city? That's what I did. After the year was over, I sat down with TYRESE MAXEY: I think that's right up my alley, to be him and he said he thought I was ready. And we made honest. That's what I know. That's how I grew up. I grew that step. up with the grit and toughness, and that's what is in my blood. I think that's going to be a great fit, like you said. Q. You never know who you're going to see at the I'm going to go in, and like I say, get 1 percent better every Wells Fargo Center on any given night when you're single day and try to bring a winning mentality. playing. You see the likes of Kevin Hart a lot, you see the likes of Meek Mill in the arena a lot. Philly is known Q. I guess over the summer you were working out and for its hip-hop scene. Do you have a favorite artist out everything with the likes of -- or in front of the likes of of Philly? LeBron James, Ben Simmons. I know you have a good relationship with those two cats, and now you'll TYRESE MAXEY: If I had to pick anybody out of that actually be a teammate of Ben Simmons. Can you talk group, I'd probably say Meek Mill. I like his flow. He's to me about the mentorship and LeBron James and pretty interesting to me. then your relationship with Ben Simmons. I can't wait. That sounds like a great scene. I live for TYRESE MAXEY: Yeah, you're right. It is kind of crazy moments like that. being a teammate of Ben Simmons now after seeing him in the gym and in the shop grinding all summer. It's a dream Q. Just to follow up on that one as well, after you were come true. I really appreciate guys like him and LeBron. drafted by the Sixers tonight, your new head coach,

103058-2-1015 2020-11-19 06:00:00 GMT Page 2 of 3 Doc Rivers, was speaking on how much he likes you and he likes a lot of the potential you bring to the floor. What do you think you can learn from a coach like Doc Rivers?

TYRESE MAXEY: I mean, Coach Doc Rivers is a great coach, a Hall of Fame coach, and that's someone that you listen to. You listen to the coach and you be extremely coachable because he's not trying to hurt you. He's trying to help you. He's trying to help you help the team and be a winning asset to the team. I just can't wait to get started. It's going to be a great experience.

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