One of the biggest questions regarding the Boston Celtics‘ addition of Paul George is whether he can stay on the floor next season.
In recent years, George has struggled with injuries. He hasn’t played more than 41 regular-season games in the past two seasons. Furthermore, he’s only passed the 50-game mark twice in the last seven.
Yet, for the Celtics to be anywhere near their best, they’ll need George to be consistently available. As such, there’s a growing belief that Joe Mazzulla and his coaching staff will carefully manage George’s minutes and workload.
Nevertheless, the concern around George’s injury history remains a sticking point. During a recent episode of “The Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst echoed Celtics fans’ concerns, questioning whether George can sustain his on-court presence throughout the upcoming season.
“There’s no way to predict what Paul George is going to do,” Windhorst said. “Like he actually shot the hell out of the ball in the playoffs last year… He looked really good, but that doesn’t mean anything. I have no idea how he’s gonna hold up.”
When healthy, George remains a highly-talented forward on both ends of the floor. There’s also no denying his fit within Mazzulla’s system. Still, until George proves he can stay on the floor, Celtics fans will undoubtedly be worried about his ability to make a positive impact.
Brad Stevens Pleased With Paul George Addition
During a recent episode of “Beneath The Banners,” which is produced by the Celtics, Brad Stevens detailed 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.”
George played a key role in helping the Philadelphia 76ers eliminate the Celtics during the opening round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. If Boston is getting that version of George, they’ll be a dangerous team. However, at this point in his career, there’s no guarantee that version of George can show up for 50-plus games and the entire postseason.
Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Discusses Adding George
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.
All eyes will be on the veteran forward as the new season begins. With two years remaining on his contract (the second year being a player option), George could view his move to Boston as a chance to finally contend for a championship. If that is the case, we may see a refocused version of George, which could lead to a sustained run in the rotation.
Only time will tell.
ESPN Analyst Raises Major Concern About Celtics’ Paul George Addition