The Boston Celtics acquired Paul George as part of the trade that shipped Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
George, 36, has two years remaining on his $211 million deal, with the final year being a player option. Unfortunately for the veteran forward, his addition to Boston’s roster has been met with scrutiny, primarily due to Brown being sent to a conference rival.
Nevertheless, it would appear that members of Boston’s roster are excited to have the talented forward heading into the new season. During a recent appearance on the “Celtics Talk Podcast,” Payton Pritchard shared his thoughts on George’s addition.
“We saw what he did to us in the playoffs. He’s a great player and does a lot of great things,” Pritchard said of George.
George played a key role in helping the 76ers bounce back from a 3-1 deficit to overcome the Celtics in seven games to start the 2026 postseason. During that series, George averaged 17.4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists ad 1.4 steals per game. He shot 43.8% from two-point range and 55% from deep.
There’s no doubt that George will be a strong fit for the Celtics. His skill set perfectly aligns with the system Joe Mazzulla has been implementing in recent years. However, fans will certainly be concerned with George’s injury history over the past four or five seasons.
Brad Stevens Has Faith in Paul George Addition
During a recent episode of “Beneath The Banners,” which is produced by the Celtics, Brad Stevens explained why he’s confident George can be a success in Boston.
“Paul’s a really good player,” Stevens said. “He’s been a really good player for a long time. He’s one of the more impactful players with regard to winning, even as he’s aged in the NBA. We just think he’s a good fit for how we play. And, I think the other part about Paul is he’s very smart. He has a good feel for the game; he’s got a good savvy to him about the game, and I think that fits in with the rest of our lineup.”
Nevertheless, George will have a tough crowd as he begins his tenure with the Celtics. Replacing Jaylen Brown, who was a fan favorite, won’t be an easy task. Of course, staying healthy will go a long way to appeasing some of his doubters throughout the city.
Paul George Is Excited To Join The Celtics
During the same episode of “Beneath The Banners,” George detailed his excitement at teaming up with Jayson Tatum and the rest of Boston’s roster, along with representing an historic franchise such as the Celtics.
“I’m looking forward to the journey, man,” George said. “I’m looking forward to wearing that green and representing for Boston.”
Boston finished as the second seed in the Eastern Conference last season. The East has significantly improved throughout the summer. Therefore, George and the rest of the Celtics will have their work cut out if they’re looking to repeat the unexpected success of last season.
Hopefully, though, Mazzulla’s team can continue outperforming expectations.
Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Makes Surprising Claim About Paul George