"Maxey has finally lost his smile" - NBA Reddit reacts to profane outburst in Sixers locker room following blowout Nuggets loss

Since Tyrese Maxey entered the NBA in 2020, he has been known for his positive attitude and contagious smile, joking around with teammates and has become an emotional leader for the Philadelphia 76ers. However, after their loss to the Denver Nuggets, he might have lost control of the team amid an underwhelming season.

The Sixers suffered an embarrassing defeat on Tuesday in Denver, falling 144-109 to Nikola Jokic and Co. It sparked a strong reaction from Sixers players, as reported by Nuggets beat writer Rachel Strand.

When asked by a fan for specifics, Strand only said that she could tell that the Sixers were upset and were at odds with one another.

Fans shared their reactions to the news on Reddit.

Fans on Reddit commented on the commotion heard in the 76ers locker room after their game against the Denver Nuggets (image credit: reddit/r/nba)

Maxey has finally lost his smile," a fan wrote.

"A Maxey trade request incoming," another fan wrote.

"Sweet chin Maxey," a fan commented.

"Alexa, play Crooked Smile," one fan said.

"HB-Maxey," another fan commented.

The 35-point loss was the Sixers' worst of the campaign. During the offseason, the team was declared one of the winners of free agency after signing Paul George to a four-year $211 million contract and bringing in players like Caleb Martin and Guerschon Yabusele. However, it owns a disappointing 15-27 record and is 11th in the Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia 76ers are three games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th and final spot for the play-in tournament. George is in one of the worst shooting slumps of his career and Joel Embiid has only played in 13 games, putting a lot of pressure on Maxey to lead the team back into contention.

The team's struggles aren't solely on Maxey, who is having a better season than last year when he earned his all-star selection alongside. He is averaging a career-high 26.4 points, 5.9 assists and 2.0 steals in 35 games. He is the only player on the roster to start every game he has played in, which speaks volumes about the injuries that have hobbled the team.

If Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers are done this year, will they shop players on the trade market?

The stars of the 76ers have struggled this season, but their role players have played well to garner interest from contenders looking to improve their rosters. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Guerschon Yabusele are averaging double digits in scoring and would bring good 3-and-D skills to a new team.

The Sixers could consider every option if they further drop in the standings, including selling players and tanking for the draft.