Paul George Talks 76ers Role Alongside Embiid, Maxey: 'Giving Myself Up for the Team'
October 4, 2024
The Philadelphia 76ers are entering a new era starting with the 2024-25 season as Paul George joins Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to help get the team over the hump in the playoffs after years of coming up short.
Speaking to reporters after Friday's practice, George explained the biggest adjustment he will make is "giving myself up for the team" with two ball-dominant players in Embiid and Maxey also on the floor.
PHLY Sixers @PHLY_SixersPaul George on the biggest adjustment he has to make to play alongside of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey: "I think just giving myself up for the team."<br><br>"Whether it's spacing, whether it's cutting, whether it's getting Tyrese off the ball because he's being pressured or finding… <a href="https://t.co/VrQI6c0KqR">pic.twitter.com/VrQI6c0KqR</a>
One reason that George made so much sense for the 76ers, aside from still being a great player, is because of his experience sacrificing for the best interest of the team.
The Los Angeles Clippers acquired James Harden from the Sixers last season, giving them a ball-dominant point guard to play with George and Kawhi Leonard. George wound up playing the third wheel on offense with 16.7 shot attempts per game, his fewest in a season since 2019-20 (16.3).
Per Basketball-Reference.com, George's 26.6 percent usage rate was his third-lowest in the past 12 seasons after 2012-13 (23.5) and 2017-18 (25.7).
George's ability to adapt to whatever the circumstances are around him is one of many reasons he's been so successful with three different teams. He will look to make it a fourth when he suits up in a game with the 76ers.
Maxey is one of the most dynamic guards in the NBA with his ability to create open shots for himself with speed and change of pace. He's also improved his passing to become a true lead point guard.
Embiid just had his most efficient offensive season with a career-high 34.7 points and 5.6 assists per game. As long as he is healthy, there are few big men capable of taking over a game like he can.
George can score when he has to, hang out around the three-point line for open shots when Maxey and/or Embiid are commanding a lot of attention, and he is still a very good defensive wing capable of taking away the best scorer on opposing teams.
If everything goes as planned for the Sixers, they have the potential to be in the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
