After a long wait and much anticipation from fans, Paul George finally showed fans a glimpse of what’s to come as he made his preseason debut for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team went on to fall short, but way more important that the weightless loss is that the nine-time All-Star certainly turned in a firey showing in his first game wearing the team’s uniform.
The nine-time All-Star certainly did not show any signs of rust in his first appearance in the hardwood since May, leading all scorers with 23 markers in just 26 minutes, shooting 8/15 from the field built on four three-pointers.
George looked pretty comfortable even on his first game. The team won during the minutes he logged. Overall, he looked really solid in what should be a preview to what he can offer to the team once the games start to count.
Grading Paul George’s fiery performance in 76ers preseason debut
The 76ers are expecting massive things from the team this season with Paul George joining the fray. That well-fitting third star has been quite elusive for the franchise for some time now, something they hope will change with the All-Star.
Using his first game as a yardstick, they should be in for a treat. The franchise haven’t had this kind of volume-shooting, three-and-D forward who can create his own shot in decades, and George’s skill set screams perfection, especially when paired next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Embiid sat out their latest outing against Minnesota, but Maxey certainly exhibited great synergy with George, even in their first NBA game together. This should bode well for when Embiid misses games due to rest or load management.
It’s also great to see George not really being a step slower despite being 34. His skill set is one that ages well, and as long as he remains lethal from the perimeter, his contract should age gracefully unlike what many have been saying.
Overall, Paul George showcased an exciting version of himself last game, proving that he could certainly be that third star that can get the Philadelphia 76ers over the hump.