After a year filled with dismay and sadness, Paul George has finally become accustomed to playing the role of the bridesmaid, not the bride. Not only has George moulded himself into an effective supporting player, but he has perfected it. Defensively efficient, bringing a presence on the boards, and draining shots when he is required -- three aspects of the veteran's game that are allowing his younger counterpart, Tyrese Maxey, to thrive as the primary offensive option.
In his debut campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers, George greatly underwhelmed despite being touted as the reason that the franchise could become one of the leading teams in the Eastern Conference. We all know how that turbulent story ended. Injury problems and issues adapting to his less prominent role in the offense restricted the 35-year-old from showcasing what he offers this roster.
Nevertheless, everybody deserves their own redemption arc, and now George is refusing to take this second chance for granted.
From zero to hero
A high majority of Sixers fans were happy for the front office to manufacture George's exit in the summer in exchange for a forward that was willing to fall in line with head coach Nick Nurse's gameplan. Fortunately, Philadelphia's general manager, Daryl Morey, is as stubborn as a mule and refused to pivot on the core of this roster that he had committed a larger percentage of the franchise's salary cap to.
Any ego that George was accused of having last year that restricted his ability to elevate his teammates has now disappeared. Not only has this helped the 76ers, but additionally helped a thriving Tyrese Maxey.
The former Los Angeles Clippers forward has positively contributed on both ends of the court, alleviating a portion of the burden that his younger teammate has been shouldering this season. George is averaging 17.1 points, five rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
George's reputation as a dangerous attacking presence precedes him, meaning that no matter what statistics he is currently recording, a defender will have one eye on what the veteran's intentions are. This is where he begins to compliment Maxey perfectly. The less attention on Philadelphia's offensive talisman will usually result in a higher points tally.
Most impressively, in the absence of Maxey, the versatile veteran has stepped up to the plate and become the teams leading scorer to ensure that this season does not implode before our very eyes. George registered 35 points while shooting 70% from deep in Philadelphia's 120-117 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks.
Given the worrying defensive frailties that the Sixers exhibited in their opening fixtures of the year, George's defensive expertise has emerged at the opportune moment. Since returning from a 12-game absence, George has added a sense of stability on the perimeter for Philadelphia. Not only this, but his communication and experience aid the team with its structure when protecting the rim.
Even though the 2024-25 campaign was a catastrophic memory that the Philadelphia 76ers wish to abolish from history, Paul George is showing that the franchise's effort to add him to the payroll was correct. His ability to play a supporting role to Tyrese Maxey when he is on the court, and replace his scoring numbers when he is not available, has established the Sixers as a team to keep a keen eye on for the rest of this season.