The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2024-25 season with their chins held high. After a very eventful and expensive offseason, they were naturally reckoned to be among the best teams in the league thanks to their elite ensemble of talent, one highlighted by the addition of Paul George, whom the front office signed to a pretty generous max contract.
Desite some justified concerns about George and how his contract would age, the theoretical fit of the nine-time All-Star next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey was simply too good to disregard. The 76ers badly needed a third fiddle with the kind of skill set that can open up a lot of space for their two stars, and George perfectly fits the billing with his perimeter prowess.
Unfortunately, George has been one of the most underwhelming stars in the NBA this season, averaging poignant numbers compared to last season when he posted career-high marks across the board with the Clippers, especially shooting-wise. Instead, his shooting has been ice cold, making his max contract look pretty ugly at this point in time.
The 76ers should have seen this Paul George mess coming from a mile away
Despite George and the coaching staff acknowledging his incredibly slow start this season, the All-Star forward has not really helped himself thanks to his sheer inconsistency. For every game showcasing his pedigree, he would turn in two or three outings of subpar performance.
Adjustments-wise, he also hasn’t been the biggest yielder. During their previous game, Nick Nurse plugged George at the five against the Pelicans with the 76ers missing Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, a move which he brazenly deemed “boring”.
”It's different. I'm used to scrapping and running around and chasing, fighting through screens. To be honest, I'm bored. Playing on a five just don't do enough for me, but I think being mindful of my ability to clog the middle and help and cut off passing lanes and driving lanes, kind of battle with the bigs is what [Sixers coach Nick Nurse] sees in that style. But I enjoy chasing the little guys and matching up against a wing”.
At this juncture, George should not be in any position to pout about such a short-lived role. He is technically the tallest forward the 76ers have, and the absence of their two, natural centers automates him having to play a position up. Heck, Guerschon Yabusele has done it on a full-time basis and has never complained.
Given his slow start, the nine-time All-Star should be more willing to take a bigger piece of the pie. Oftentimes, he’s become a passive, standstill guy, waiting for the lowest-hanging fruit instead of hunting for it as he usually has in his career.
The Philadelphia 76ers should have honestly seen this coming. This isn’t the first time this has happened (remember his qualms about how Doc Rivers used to utilize him?). Paul George is a heck of a talent who is way too good not to regain his usual self, but his play and tendencies must be causing some early regretful sentiments from the franchise. Now, the front office would probably jump at the chance for a redo.