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, along with his efficiency to air on NBC on Thanksgiving Day. Howie is an 8-year-old border collie, whereas Spike is a 2-year-old border collie papillion.
“It was actually enjoyable. They obtained me out right here sweating. Like I simply performed a complete quarter. I feel I’ll persist with staying on the courtroom,” he said 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 corresponding to “leap,” “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 can be fascinated by collaborating, NBC Sports activities producer Alexa Maremaa instructed 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 commercial with the Players 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 stated.
The producers needed Maxey to reach early for a tour of the house. Equally, he needed 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 identical to once they have been strolling in the direction of one another like these large previous canines and you realize, they’re slobbering,” Maremaa stated. “He ate it up. He is clearly a canine lover.”
With the varied obstacles and carpets on the course, Maremaa frightened that Maxey would possibly injure himself.
“I frankly was afraid that he was going to journey and fall on the carpet,” she stated. “Just like the Sixers have been going to have a problem 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 things.”
Agility professionals on the present helped choose which canines can be greatest for Tyrese. They settled on a smaller canine that “would possibly yap at him as a result of they thought that is likely to be enjoyable,” Maremaa stated, and one of many greater canines that was low upkeep.
As soon as the canines have 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 possibly can 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 stated.
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 by 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 needed to offer him two photographs with two completely different canines simply to see if it might be an enchancment or a distinction, and the second canine was quicker,” she stated.
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 possibly can showcase any individual who has that keenness,” Maremaa stated. “It is not a foul factor.”