After making a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics over the summer, the Philadelphia 76ers are going to face the outgoing player in the deal for the first time this week since it went down. Paul George is back in Philadelphia, and the way his return will play out is a bit of a mystery.
Typically, when a high-profile deal like that goes down, the first meeting comes with a strong reaction. The entire hoops world knows that the Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum storyline will gobble up all of the attention. The next time Jaylen Brown goes to Boston will be extremely hostile.
However, Brown is just facing his former team in his new home. George is the one visiting his old home as a member of a new team--a rival team in fact. As the big game approaches, there are a few questions about the reaction towards George that are worth exploring.
Should the Sixers pay tribute?
The 76ers are certainly going to have a welcome-back graphic on a screen set up in the Celtics' locker room at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday night. It's the typical move.
Beyond that? Forget it. No tribute video, no grand announcement, just business as usual. From an organizational standpoint, they don't really owe George much. The veteran forward should be thanking them.
The 76ers offered a generous four-year contract worth $211 million to George in 2024, after the Los Angeles Clippers low-balled him and the Golden State Warriors couldn't acquire him. In return, the Sixers got 78 games in two years, where George turned in production similar to his third year in the league, when he was finally starting to establish himself as a future star.
When George averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists for the Indiana Pacers, he was getting paid under $3 million. Last season, he earned $51 million, while producing 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Playing better defensively to help win a first-round series in 2026 doesn't warrant an in-game tribute.
What should the fans do?
Do you! I don't know if roaring boos every time Paul George touches the ball for four quarters is worth it, especially when there is a good chance that Tatum gets that kind of treatment in defense of Jaylen Brown. Save your voices.
We've seen that with returning stars like Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, and James Harden, who all forced a trade in the past. Paul George didn't request a trade. At the same time, it never felt like he truly wanted to be in Philadelphia. He wanted to stay in LA with the Clippers, but they had other plans. He was very vocal about his desire to get to Golden State, but that didn't come to life. The Sixers were the third option. But hey! They beat out the Orlando Magic in the PG sweepstakes!
In all seriousness, take the advice of Paul George and just treat it like another game. He's a player on the other side, suited up for the Celtics. React to that as you typically would.
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