Tyrese Maxey at the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge
Tyrese Maxey, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star point guard and 2024 NBA All-Star, recently took a break from basketball to showcase his skills at the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge during the 2025 National Dog Show. Clad in gray with a beanie and glasses, Maxey described feeling as if he had just completed an intense NBA quarter, although this time he wasn’t on the court but instead was maneuvering two enthusiastic dogs through an intricate agility course.
Event Details
The event took place on November 16 before a crowd of around 15,000 at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Maxey guided an 8-year-old border collie named Howie and a 2-year-old border collie-papillion mix called Spike through a series of obstacles, including tunnels, weave poles, agility hurdles, and a tire jump. His performance is set to be broadcast on NBC on Thanksgiving Day.
Maxey’s Experience
During his time on the agility course, Maxey humorously noted on air, “It was really fun. They had me sweating as if I just played a whole quarter. I think I’m going to stick to staying on the court.”
This lighthearted comment encapsulated his experience directing the dogs with various commands such as “jump,” “tunnel,” and “weave, weave, weave, weave.”
Preparation and Safety
Prior to this event, NBC Sports producer Alexa Maremaa reached out to the 76ers organization looking for a player willing to participate. Maxey’s love for dogs and his previous experience training them made him an ideal candidate. In a 2024 commercial with State Farm and the Players Tribune, he learned agility training techniques from professionals Perry DeWitt and Jessica Ajoux. Coincidentally, DeWitt participated in this year’s dog show, creating a perfect blend of Maxey’s worlds.
Maxey was eager to explore the venue and personally sought out specific breeds like cane corsos and bullmastiffs, which he owns. Maremaa remarked on the sheer joy on his face as he interacted with the larger breeds he adored.
Concerned for Maxey’s safety while navigating the course filled with various obstacles, Maremaa conveyed that there was a risk he might lose his balance while running alongside the dogs.
To ensure a smooth experience, agility professionals at the event carefully selected the dogs that would partner with Maxey, including a small dog known to be playful and a larger, low-maintenance canine. Understanding the unpredictability of working with dogs, Maxey took the initiative to practice with the trainers ahead of time to familiarize himself with the course and command cues.
Performance Results
Typically, professionals complete the agility course in 18 to 21 seconds, but judging the excitement of working with Howie and Spike proved to be a learning curve for Maxey. His first attempt with Howie clocked in at 41 seconds due to the dog’s distraction, while in a more streamlined second run with Spike, he achieved a noticeably better time of 30 seconds.
Conclusion
Although there are currently no plans for Maxey to return to this type of agility challenge, his visible enthusiasm for dogs and the experience itself left a positive impression. As Maremaa concluded,
“Any time you can showcase someone who has that passion, it’s not a bad thing.”
Despite this detour into dog agility, Maxey remains firmly committed to his basketball career with the 76ers.
