Wearing all grey with a beanie and glasses, Tyrese Maxey defined that he was out of breath, feeling as if he had simply performed a full quarter of NBA basketball.
Besides, Maxey hadn’t bounced any basketballs or attacked the rim. The Philadelphia 76ers star guard as an alternative was directing a number of canines via the Purina Professional Plan Unbelievable Canine Problem Agility Present, part of the 2025 Nationwide Canine Present.
Maxey participated within the agility course in a Nov. 16 present taping in entrance of roughly 15,000 spectators on the Kennel Membership of Philadelphia. He ran two canines — Howie and Spike — via the course, together with his efficiency to air on NBC on Thanksgiving Day.
“It was actually enjoyable. They bought me out right here sweating. Like I simply performed an entire quarter. I feel I’ll follow staying on the courtroom,” he mentioned on the NBC broadcast.
The course included two tunnels and weave poles, a number of agility hurdles and a tire for the canines to leap via. Maxey, who was unavailable for an interview, held a toy and directed Howie and Spike via the obstacles with instructions similar to “bounce,” “tunnel” and “weave, weave, weave, weave.” Maxey’s activate the course occurred after the breed judging and earlier than the Nationwide Canine Present group judging.
Present officers beforehand reached out to the 76ers to see if any participant could be fascinated about collaborating, NBC Sports activities producer Alexa Maremaa informed ESPN. Maxey, an NBA All-Star in 2024, has three canines and had earlier expertise on a canine agility course.
In 2024, Maxey appeared in a State Farm industrial with the Gamers Tribune, studying canine coaching expertise from Perry DeWitt and Jessica Ajoux, two skilled agility trainers. DeWitt was a part of the 2025 canine present, making it a “good melding of the worlds,” Maremaa mentioned.
The producers wished Maxey to reach early for a tour of the area. Equally, he wished to go searching himself, particularly to search out canine breeds such because the cane corsos — one of many breeds he owns — and bullmastiffs.
“His face lit up similar to after they had been strolling in direction of one another like these large outdated canines and , they’re slobbering,” Maremaa mentioned. “He ate it up. He is clearly a canine lover.”
With the varied obstacles and carpets on the course, Maremaa anxious that Maxey may injure himself.
“I frankly was afraid that he was going to journey and fall on the carpet,” she mentioned. “Just like the Sixers had been going to have a difficulty with this. … You are operating alongside a canine, and also you’re probably not trying the place you are going, there is a tunnel in your means and like all these items.”
Agility professionals on the present helped choose which canines could be finest for Tyrese. They settled on a smaller canine that “may yap at him as a result of they thought that may be enjoyable,” Maremaa mentioned, and one of many greater canines that was low upkeep.
As soon as the canines had been picked, it was time to start taping. Maxey requested if he may stroll via the course with the professionals and apply instructions for every part.
“There’s solely a lot you may management with these canines. … So, I feel doing that dry run with the professionals and simply ensuring he knew, ‘OK tunnel right here, weave right here,’ set him up for achievement,” Meramaa mentioned.
It sometimes takes professionals with their very own skilled canines 18 to 21 seconds to run via the course.
Maxey’s first run with Howie took 41 seconds after the canine turned extra fascinated about a toy than weaving, resulting in a mini tug-of-war with Maxey. His second run with Spike — which Maremaa thought seemed “actual easy” — resulted in a commendable time of 30 seconds.
“We wished to present him two photographs with two completely different canines simply to see if it could be an enchancment or a distinction, and the second canine was quicker,” she mentioned.
Although there have been no plans to have Maxey return to an agility course sooner or later, the love he displayed for canines left the door open.
“Any time you may showcase any individual who has that keenness,” Maremaa mentioned. “It is not a foul factor.”