Tyrese Maxey shuts down Stephen A. Smith’s Doc Rivers claim appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tyrese Maxey had a direct response to Stephen A. Smith’s account of a supposed visit with Doc Rivers: That visit never happened, per BleacherReport.
On Friday’s First Take, Smith linked Maxey’s confrontation with James Harden to Philadelphia’s 2023 postseason exit against Boston. He claimed Maxey “went to (then-Sixers head coach) Doc Rivers’ crib damn near crying” over Harden’s effort during that series.
Maxey rejected the story, saying he has “never even been” to Rivers’ home.
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That denial challenged the premise of Smith’s account after Maxey and Harden exchanged shoves during Thursday’s matchup. Officials and players intervened to separate the former teammates.
Maxey also left with the better result. Philadelphia overcame a deficit of 29 points and defeated Cleveland 114-106, with Maxey delivering 32 points across 42 minutes. Harden recorded 16 points and five assists while committing six turnovers.
Here yall go🫤… I’ve never even been to DOC house 😂 https://t.co/sNdCLS9Vrp
— Tyrese Maxey (@TyreseMaxey) October 23, 2026
Why did Stephen A. Smith bring up the 2023 playoffs?
Smith’s comments reached back to an uneven series for Harden, who helped Philadelphia beat Boston twice with scoring performances that exceeded 40 points in the first and fifth games.
His production dropped sharply afterward. Across the final two contests, Harden totaled 22 points, converting seven of 27 attempts overall and one of 11 beyond the arc. He added 16 assists against 10 turnovers.
The deciding seventh game marked his last outing for Philadelphia. Following his public dispute with the franchise, which included calling Daryl Morey “a liar,” Harden joined the Clippers through a November 2023 trade.
Philadelphia supporters also gave Harden a hostile reception Thursday, greeting his touches with boos throughout the game.
Smith revisited that history, but Maxey specifically disputed the alleged house visit at the center of his claim.
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