Sixers All-Star Opens Up About Adding Paul George

This summer, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired the NBA’s most notable free agent by signing Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers. Once again, the Sixers formed a big three, with a new All-Star joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

For Maxey, George is another veteran All-Star to grow with. Since entering the NBA as a first-round pick in 2020, Maxey has played alongside Ben Simmons, James Harden and even now-former Sixers veteran Tobias Harris.

“Shout out to those guys that have been here,” Maxey said Tuesday. “I really appreciate their service. They’ve been great here and I couldn’t ask for better vets and better people to help this franchise while they’re here.”

The 2024 offseason was a huge opportunity for the Sixers to shake things up. With the bulk of last year’s roster hitting free agency, the Sixers had the most cap space in the league when free agency opened.

There were rumors that Paul George was weighing his options, with multiple scenarios in mind, including a sign-and-trade to the Golden State Warriors, a return to the LA Clippers, signing with the Orlando Magic or packing up and joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

With brand new contract offers from Josh Harris and Daryl Morey on the table, George ultimately decided that a fresh start with the 76ers would be his best chance to win a title and get the contract he wanted.

For Maxey and Embiid, George’s presence could be a big boost for next season and beyond.

“Paul is a guy that can do a lot of different things for us, especially since we have a guy like Joel Embiid on our team,” Maxey said. “Paul can spot and knock down three-pointers, that’s the biggest thing you have to be able to do playing with Joel on the court. And then also being able to create for himself, create from Joel. He’s 6-8, 6-9, and he can defend multiple positions. He brings a whole different aspect of the game to us. We have a really good coach that can help us put those pieces together.”

Making the playoffs hasn’t been a problem for the Sixers, who have been postseason fixtures since the Joel Embiid era began. Getting the right pieces in play and finding some good fortune on the health front has been a tough hurdle for Philly, which hasn’t reached an Eastern Conference Finals in two decades.

George’s presence doesn’t guarantee a trip to the NBA Finals, but he certainly puts the Sixers in a good position as they once again field a trio of superstars.