Wednesday night marked the much-anticipated debut of Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George as he faced off against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. The 76ers acquired George, a nine-time NBA All-Star, in a blockbuster offseason trade after he spent the last five seasons with the Clippers. Fans eagerly awaited his first game action for Philly, eager to see how the veteran would fit in with the 76ers’ star-studded lineup.
Due to a knee injury he sustained during the preseason, George’s availability for the matchup was uncertain. However, the 76ers cleared George to play and scheduled his debut against his old squad. “It’s going to be an emotional game for me, no doubt,” George said pregame. “I really want to compete, but I also respect the Clippers and my former teammates. It’s going to be a special night.”
George did end up taking the floor for the 76ers, checking in midway through the first quarter to a smattering of boos from the Crypto.com Arena crowd. The 33-year-old forward showed some expected signs of rust, connecting on just 4-of-14 shots from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range.
Despite the shooting struggles, George still managed to contribute 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 31 minutes of action. His presence on the court opened things up for his new teammates, and the 76ers were able to secure a hard-fought 105-98 victory over the Clippers.
“I thought Paul did a really nice job out there, especially considering it was his first game with us,” said 76ers head coach Doc Rivers. “He’s still getting his legs under him, but you can see the impact he’s going to have on both ends of the floor. I’m excited to keep working him into the lineup.”
The win was an important one for the 76ers, who had gotten off to a slow 2-4 start to the season. In addition to George’s debut, the team was also playing without star center Joel Emery, who is serving a suspension.
With Embiid sidelined, the 76ers leaned heavily on their supporting cast, including a strong performance from center Andre Drummond, who recorded a double double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
“We knew this was going to be a tough road trip, especially without Joel,” said veteran guard Tyrese Maxey. “But the guys really stepped up tonight. Paul gave us a huge boost, and Andre was a beast on the glass. It was a total team effort.”
As for the Clippers, the loss dropped them to 3-5 on the season, a disappointing start for a team with championship aspirations. Kawhi Leonard remained sidelined with a knee injury, and his status for the coming weeks remains uncertain. “We’ve got to find a way to get healthy and get on track,” said Clippers head coach Ty Lue. The loss to your former team is always tough, but we must move on to the next one.”
With the win, the 76ers improved to 3-4 for the year and will look to build on this momentum as they continue their West Coast road trip. For Paul George, Wednesday’s game marked the start of a new chapter, as he looks to help his new team contend for an NBA title. “I’m grateful to be here and part of this group,” George said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m excited to get going and see what we can accomplish together.”