Four months after Paul George underwent knee surgery, he returned to play in his first game for the Philadelphia Sixers since March. His return came against his former team, the Clippers, in what was a 110-108 win for the Sixers. He looked rusty, as expected after not playing for months, playing only 21 minutes. Although the outcome wasn't surprising, it's still hard not to be a little disappointed, knowing that this is the version of George that Philly could be left with.
He finished with nine points (2-of-9 shooting), seven rebounds, and three assists. George played the first five minutes of each quarter, re-acclimating to being back on the floor with his teammates. He left the game for the final time at the 8:52 mark in the fourth quarter when Trendon Watford subbed in for him.
The good thing is that George was back out there, and that he even hit his first shot attempt, a three-pointer off a Tyrese Maxey assist.
Fans should've already tempered their expectations for George this season, after he played only 41 games last season. He's not getting any younger (he turned 35 in May). The issue is that he's making $51.6 million this season, and will make $54.1 million next season before he has a $56.6 million player option for the 2027-28 season that he most certainly will pick up. The Sixers aren't paying him to be an 'eh' kind of player.
So, while it was a win in itself to see him play again, it was also a reminder of the situation that Philly got itself into.
What kind of player will Paul George be for the Sixers this season?
George said after the game that an increase in minutes would be determined by work with the medical staff, and seeing how his body responds. You can't get optimistic about that, though, not after the kind of setbacks that fans have sadly grown accustomed to.
Sometimes it feels like the Sixers take one step forward and end up two steps back. Sadly, that could become George's reality in Philadelphia. The most important thing is whether he can stay on the court, and after that, if he can look anything like he did during his final season with the Clippers. He didn't look like that last season, that's for sure.
The Sixers still don't know what kind of player he will be, or they could have an idea based on last season, but they're hoping that was a fluke, not George's new reality. Monday didn't answer that question, but it wasn't supposed to. When that answer is revealed, there is a good chance Philadelphia won't like it.