When Paul George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, he was purported to be the lacking piece that unlocked the group as a title contender within the East. As a substitute, his first yr grew to become one of many largest disappointments, each for his private efficiency and the group’s struggles, in your entire NBA.
The Sixers went 24-58, with George solely showing in 41 video games as a consequence of accidents and struggling to acclimate to his new environment, averaging simply 16.2 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per sport on 54.3% true taking pictures. That represented his worst season since his second yr within the league, and after being handed a max contract to fit in between Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid (whose on damage woes doomed the Sixers even when George was good), he was not precisely a beloved determine in Philadelphia.
Athletes in Philly by no means need to surprise what the followers consider them, as George can attest to as he bought informed immediately by Sixers followers how annoyed they have been together with his play. George went viral in February after he bought caught driving by means of town within the rapid aftermath of the Eagles’ Tremendous Bowl win, getting caught in a sea of Eagles followers, who acknowledged George and, as he defined on his podcast with Carmelo Anthony, yelled one thing at him that he needed to “take to coronary heart.”
Paul George: “[Guy] stated, ‘We coulda stored Tobias!’ [laughs] ‘We coulda stored Tobias if you happen to gonna do that shit.’ Shoutout TB. Ain’t no joke at TB, however it was some shit you are taking to the guts. Such as you proper. Details. I bought you.”
Carmelo Anthony: “That proper there’ll wake your ass up tho. You in all probability awakened like, yo, what the f—? I gotta be prepared for this shit.”
PG: “I bought to the crib, discovered the closest basketball, like let me get proper.”
Melo: “For me that was the fantastic thing about enjoying in a giant metropolis. I do know they gonna preserve me sharp it doesn’t matter what. Like I gotta keep sharp. I’ve to.”
George can say “no joke at Tobias” all he desires however it completely is a joke at Tobias’ expense. Harris preceded George because the former-Clipper wing who was purported to bridge the hole on the wing in Philly and struggled, turning into the common punching bag of Sixers followers. George was purported to be an enormous improve over Harris, however their manufacturing was eerily related — Harris averaged 17.2 factors, 6.5 rebounds and three.1 assists on 57.6% true taking pictures in his final yr in Philly.
This interplay between George and Anthony discovered its approach to Harris, who not too long ago wrapped up his first season with the Detroit Pistons on a two-year, $52 million deal. The Pistons went from profitable 14 video games to 44 this yr earlier than shedding a hard-fought collection to the New York Knicks within the first spherical of the playoffs. Harris took discover of how poorly the Sixers performed this yr, together with their depressing report (which was truly 4-24, not 4-27 as Harris claimed) that adopted the Eagles’ parade. George performed in solely six of these video games, and the Sixers went 1-5.
As such, that Sixers fan who got here throughout George in his automotive whereas celebrating the Eagles’ triumph was, unequivocally, right in his evaluation. George and Anthony laughed about it, with Anthony explaining how he all the time beloved the directness of followers within the massive metropolis (for him, New York), as a result of they stored him sharp.
George might snicker about this proper now within the offseason and proclaim that he took it to coronary heart and plans to be higher subsequent yr, however there’s a ton of strain on him and the remainder of this Sixers group to bounce again in a significant manner in 2025-26. An enormous piece of that’s Embiid’s well being, which is out of George’s management, however he wants to supply like an All-Star once more or he’ll hear a lot worse from the Philly devoted subsequent spring.
