Paul George's two-season tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers came to an abrupt end earlier this summer, when he was traded to the Boston Celtics as part of the deal that brought Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. George's time with the Sixers was marred by injuries; however, he came up big for Nick Nurse's team during the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, helping the Sixers bounce back from 3-1 down to eliminate Boston.
On Tuesday, September 15, George addressed the Boston media during hisintroductory news conference. Among a range of questions, George provided well-thought-out answers when asked about the controversial circumstances that led to his landing in Boston and how he felt about the fans' lukewarm reaction to his addition.
"Listen, I
understand the circumstances," George said. "I understand how huge JB was not only for the organization, but here in the city...To be honest, it’s (the pushback on his arrival) fair."
While George is already preparing for his first season in Celtics green, Sixers fans are gearing up for a potential championship season. Not only did the franchise acquire Brown this summer, but they also landed LeBron James in free agency, giving themselves a legitimate super team and a genuine shot at a title run.
In George's two seasons with the Sixers, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, suiting up for 78 regular-season contests. He shot 37.5 percent from deep and 48.9 percent from the two-point range. Although his time in Philadelphia didn't lead to a championship run, his tenure ultimately helped lead to the acquisition of Brown, and for that, Sixers fans will undoubtedly be grateful.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Paul George Addresses Celtics Fans' Pushback After Sixers Trade
