The acquisition of Paul George was supposed to elevate the Philadelphia 76ers into contention for the top seed in the Eastern Conference; yet, the franchise reaped little reward as its season plummeted into chaos and despair.
One lingering issue that the Sixers severely suffered from was finding an effective role for George, in which he could have a positive impact on the performance of the devastating Tyrese Maxey and superstar Joel Embiid.
It appeared that the 35-year-old struggled to fit into a system where he was not considered the primary option on offense. A star who could once ignite a team into life with his explosive movements and earth-shattering finishes at the rim, looked a shadow of his former self as he settled for spot-up shots from the corner that negatively impacted his team's performance.
George must adapt to a less significant role
This role is something that won't change for a veteran star, who is already fighting a losing battle against Father Time. The former Los Angeles Clippers star must swiftly adapt if he is going to be successful at a franchise that expects to compete at the summit of the Eastern Conference. George must accept that both Embiid and Maxey are considered more important assets to head coach Nick Nurse.
It is evident from George's season statistics that he was utilized far less than a player of his calibre is used to. Throughout the 41 games that he featured in, the nine-time All-Star averaged 13.9 field-goal attempts per game -- his lowest recorded tally since the 2014-15 campaign, in which he suffered a season-ending compound fracture in his right leg.
However, the 76ers accidentally stumbled upon a defensive role for a player who is largely renowned for his offensive repertoire but has consistently shown, over his illustrious career, that he possesses all the attributes of an effective perimeter defender.
Despite his employers ending the 2024-25 season with the fifth-worst defensive rating in the NBA, George was a constant pest around the three-point line, preventing the opposition from getting easy looks from deep. While averaging 1.8 steals per game, the veteran continually showed resilience while defending his basket.
Nevertheless, the Philadelphia 76ers will be desperate to right the wrongs of a campaign that saw them win just 24 games. The Sixers need a version of Paul George that can be effective on both sides of the court, while providing Embiid and Maxey a platform to thrive -- if the duo can stay healthy.