Tyrese Maxey trolls former 76ers teammate with 3 words over missed Kyrie-esque layup during Warriors vs. Pistons game
Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey had a humorous reaction to former teammate De'Anthony Melton's missed layup attempt during the Golden State Warriors' preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Melton attempted a flashy, Kyrie Irving-style layup, driving to the basket and pulling off an up-and-under move, only to miss the left-handed finish badly.
Maxey, watching the game from home, couldn’t resist poking fun at the moment. He shared a video of the play on his Instagram story, capturing the sequence from his television as he laughed at Melton’s missed highlight opportunity.
Maxey dropped a three-word reaction, which was accompanied with two emojis.
"Come on melt 😔😂," Maxey wrote.
Maxey and Melton spent two seasons together with the 76ers after the latter joined the team in 2022. As Maxey began thriving in a star role, Melton's minutes with Philadelphia became more inconsistent.
In his first season with the 76ers, Melton, a former USC guard, appeared in 77 games, but he was limited to just 38 regular-season games the following year. Over his two seasons with the 76ers, Melton averaged 10.4 points on 41.1% shooting, including 37.9% from beyond the arc. He also contributed 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
De'Anthony Melton expected to play big role for Golden State
De'Anthony Melton has impressed in the Golden State Warriors' four preseason games, sparking reports that coach Steve Kerr is considering starting him alongside Steph Curry in the backcourt, at least to begin the upcoming season.
According to Warriors insider Monte Poole, Kerr plans to bring Buddy Hield off the bench, positioning Melton as a strong candidate for the starting shooting guard role.
Melton's defensive prowess makes him a valuable asset for the Warriors, especially in a role previously held by Klay Thompson, who excelled defensively alongside Curry.
At the Warriors' media day, Melton expressed his commitment to defense, acknowledging its importance for any team with championship aspirations. His skill set could be a perfect fit for Golden State's defensive strategy.
"I love playing defense, getting steals and stops. I feel like defense wins championships. It's always been my mantra. That's who I am," Melton said.
Melton will aim to build on his strong preseason performance as the Warriors face the Lakers in their remaining two preseason games, with the first matchup set for Tuesday.
Also read: Who will be Steph Curry's backcourt partner? 3 potential running mates explored