Standing out front of Faheem’s Hand of Precision, located on South 20th Street, Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey recalled sitting on his front steps “like a bad kid.” During his second year in Philly, the two-time All-Star would walk across the street to get hot chips, watch a young kid from the neighborhood ride his dirt bike back and forth, and see kids on the bus passing by banging on their windows to get his attention.
Fast forward five years and Maxey was back on his old stomping grounds to promote the upcoming release of his signature New Balance sneaker, the Maxey v1s.
“I went and got a haircut and sat on those steps and talked to people that walked by,” Maxey said. “I came through here during the times of 5, 6 p.m. where the whole block, everybody is here. … This is a place of comfort. This is a place of family. It means a lot.”
Faheem Alexander, Maxey’s barber, has owned the shop for 26 years. Inside, the walls are decorated with photos of Alexander with celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Tracy Morgan.
However, there’s still no photo of Maxey and Alexander hanging up — yet.
“I have a spot cleared out for him,” Alexander said. “That’s my foundation pic. I want everybody to come in and see the picture. It’s been amazing to see him grow, from a fresh faced 18, 19-year-old kid, to now, he’s a father [at] 25 years old. … It’s just easy, he’s a beautiful person.”
Maxey getting his own signature shoe is another example of the young guard’s rising star power. He signed a shoe deal with New Balance in 2023, joining players like Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, and Zach LaVine. Since then, he’s starred in the brand’s “We Got Now” ad, and released the Tyrese Maxey Hero Pack — which is a collection inspired by Maxey’s love of comic books that included a basketball shoe, the New Balance Hesi Low v2, and a lifestyle shoe, the New Balance 1906R.
“I’m just feeling blessed, and thankful for the opportunity,” Maxey said. “And then the biggest thing, I just hope the people are as positive and happy about it as I am. I hope when they put them on, they get to have fun with them. I hope the shoe brings them joy, as much as it brings me. That’s the biggest thing I wish and hope for. And I’m glad to see it come to fruition now.”
Maxey debuted his New Balance signature shoes in April during the Sixers’ 109-97 play-in game victory over the Orlando Magic that clinched the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of the sneaker’s release, Maxey visited three local Philly spots as a way to surprise fans.
His first stop was at Foot Locker, located on Chestnut Street, where he met with the workers and posed for photos with fans who spotted him through the window.
“I basically grew up here,” Maxey said. “I’ve been through all these places, these streets, everywhere. And that’s just me trying to be a good person and a good role model to the kids and the people in the city — making them smile. Philadelphia has really raised me and it’s really helped me become the person I am today and I’m very thankful.”
The second stop was at the cheesesteak spot Ishkabibble’s, located on South Street, where Maxey took pictures with the staff.
“Ishkabibble’s is important to me because it’s the first place I had a cheesesteak,” Maxey said. “Cheesesteaks are huge here. And now whenever I’m close to Ishkabibble’s, I always go stop in. I’ve taken everybody there that I know, pretty much, that come to town.
As Maxey was leaving the shop, Carlos Deloatch, 54, and his wife Valencia Whitfield, 69, stopped him to chat about the upcoming season.
“Don’t let LeBron [James] come to our city and steal your shine,” Deloatch said.
“He came here to help,” Maxey responded with a smile.
The Maxey v1s have been in the works since January. The low-top sneakers have a black base made of suede and mesh material, with light blueish gray accents that swoop into the design.
“The biggest thing was trying to keep it a secret,” Maxey said. “There’s been a lot of times where people have asked me on the spot in interviews in live situations like ‘Hey, you think New Balance will give you a shoe?’ and I know the shoe is coming but I can’t say anything. … That was one of the most entertaining parts.”
The sneaker is set to release on Oct. 2 via New Balance’s website and partnering retailers.