BOSTON -- The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics met on Saturday at the TD Garden in a preseason matchup that meant just a little bit more for some. It was the first time these teams have seen each other since the big Paul George-Jaylen Brown trade from the summer as the teams made some major changes to their respective rosters.
While Brown didn't play in this contest, the Sixers got to see George make his unofficial Celtics debut. The former Sixers star finished with 13 points on 3-for-10 shooting, but he had five steals and made plenty of big defensive plays, as he did during his time in Philadelphia. He made a positive impact on his new Celtics teammates just as he did on his younger Sixers teammates in the past, and he gave them some
love after the matchup.
George caught up with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Justin Edwards, and Jabari Walker after the game.
"I love those guys," gushed George. "I love those guys. Jo, Tyrese, VJ, JE. I think these long-lasting relationships that you build along the way of this journey here. VJ calls me almost every other week. I talk to him. Tyrese has called me a lot of times throughout the summer. I’ll go back to Philly to see my family. Jo lives about 5/10 minutes from me. So, I see him. Our kids are in the same schools. So, we see each other. So, there's still a brotherhood over there, so it was great to see those guys and now compete against them."
Paul George on the #Sixers: “I love those guys…Jo, Tyrese, VJ, JE. I think these long-lasting relationships that you build along the way of this journey here. VJ calls me almost every other week.” pic.twitter.com/nDwpZrPCYd
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) October 11, 2026
In terms of what his legacy will be in Philadelphia, many will call it underwhelming as George was limited to only 78 games in his two seasons with the team. It makes sense as the Sixers brought him in with the idea that he would help Embiid and Maxey get Philadelphia to the mountaintop.
However, George was a positive influence on young Edgecombe and he takes solace in that.
"I guess just impact," George reflected. "Obviously, I spent a ton of time with VJ, and hopefully, it's just an impact if I help him in any way become a better basketball player, a better person. I love the kid. We spent, like I said, a ton of time together, and if it's anything that he took away from it is I guess just being genuine, truly, and be there for him in any way I could, and I thought I tried to give it everything I had when I could, and be available when I could for those guys."
George and the Celtics will face the Sixers again in the preseason on Oct. 16 in Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Paul George reflects on time with Sixers after preseason matchup
