Two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey has remained sidelined for much of this month for the Philadelphia 76ers, and his absence has been evident as the team fights to avoid the Play-In Tournament. However, as he recovers from a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger, Maxey has been keeping things light, recently naming his “Avengers” starting five using NBA players.
Tyrese Maxey’s NBA Avengers Lineup Features LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Maxey made his debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday night, where the conversation naturally shifted to his love for Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The 25-year-old revealed that Spider-Man is his favorite character, and he chose either himself or Donovan Mitchell for the role, given that both are undersized guards who rely on agility and instincts rather than raw power.
Maxey then named reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Iron Man, praising the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s personality and flair.
“Because of who he is, how he dresses, and he just like to troll on Instagram, in captions,” Maxey explained.
MORE: Lakers Linked to Michigan Center Aday Mara in 2026 NBA Mock Draft As Deandre Ayton Struggles
For Thor, Maxey selected Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is among the frontrunners for MVP this season alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.
“They call him Luka Magic for a reason. Only he can do some of the things, you know what I’m saying. Only he can do those things. And Thor was the same way. Only Thor can do those things. He’s magical. That’s how I feel about Luka,” he said.
.@TyreseMaxey assigns an @NBA player to each @Avengers character! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/gX9YppDrSS
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 25, 2026
For Captain America, Maxey chose LeBron James, who continues to produce at an elite level in his record 23rd NBA season.
“Everything he does is special, and he just goes out there, like he did at the Olympics,” Maxey said.
James fits the role well, having led teams for over two decades, inspiring both fear and respect, and consistently defying expectations of decline. His leadership and durability closely mirror those of Steve Rogers.
The most humorous selection came from Maxey’s choice for the Hulk: Isaiah Stewart.
“Any man that is going to chase LeBron I think that he should be the Hulk. There’s no stopping him when he gets angry. I don’t think anybody’s getting in front of him when he’s angry,” said Maxey, referencing their 2021 on-court altercation.
Meanwhile, Maxey’s recovery continues to progress, and he is expected to be reevaluated in the coming days. This season, he has averaged 29.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game, often carrying the team in the absence of key players like Joel Embiid and Paul George.
