Basketball Star Takes on Unusual Challenge
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey found himself in a completely different kind of competition earlier this month when he traded his basketball kit for a dog lead. The NBA star participated in the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Agility Show on November 16, testing his skills against a professional obstacle course designed for canines.
The event took place at the Kennel Club in Philadelphia, aptly known as the City of Brotherly Love, where approximately 15,000 spectators watched the 25-year-old athlete attempt to guide two dogs he'd only just met. Despite being a proud owner of three dogs himself, Maxey was paired with unfamiliar pups named Howie and Spike for the challenge.
A Tale of Two Runs
After observing a professional handler demonstrate the course, Maxey stepped up with his first partner, Howie. The course presented numerous challenges including tunnels, weave poles, various agility hurdles, and a tyre for the dogs to leap through.
The pairing started strongly, with the hoops star dashing around the track calling out commands like 'jump', 'tunnel', and 'weave, weave, weave' as Howie successfully navigated the early obstacles. However, the run quickly derailed when Howie became more interested in the toy Maxey was holding than in completing the course, leading to an impromptu tug-of-war between them.
Maxey eventually managed to steer the distracted dog back on track, and they completed their run with a time of 41 seconds.
His second attempt with Spike proved far more successful. This run went much smoother, resulting in a commendable time of 30 seconds, showcasing what can happen when man and canine are perfectly in sync.
From the Court to the Canine Course
Speaking on the NBC broadcast that aired on Thanksgiving, Maxey shared his enthusiasm for the experience. 'It's been amazing. I've been able to just walk around and see a lot of different dogs. They're very well trained. I wish my dogs could come here and learn some skills, but it's been incredible. It's a great opportunity,' he said.
Show organisers had brought Maxey to the arena early to tour the course, and the player himself expressed interest in familiarising himself with the different dog breeds present. Despite his obvious enjoyment, Maxey joked about the physical demands of the activity, stating, 'It was really fun. They got me out here sweating, like I just played a whole quarter. I think I'm going to stick to staying on the court.'
According to NBC Sports producer Alexa Maremaa, officials had reached out to the 76ers organisation to see if any players would be interested in participating. This wasn't Maxey's first exposure to dog agility skills either; last year he appeared in a State Farm commercial with the Players Tribune, where he learned dog training techniques from professional agility trainers Perry DeWitt and Jessica Ajoux.
