Star forward Paul George made his NBA preseason debut with the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he did not disappoint.
After just a single preseason matchup, Sixers fans are already falling in love with their newest star.
George recorded 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal on 8 of 15 shooting and 44.4% shooting from three-point range. It’s clear 76ers coach Nick Nurse wanted fans to get a real look at the nine-time All-Star, as he played a team-high 26 minutes. He concluded with just one turnover despite the high amount of playing time.
It’s worth noting George was struggling on the defensive end at times, but considering it’s his first game, it’s not of major concern. One play in particular, newly acquired Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo had the Sixers forward spinning on a drive and dump off for an open layup.
“I don’t think people realize just how big of a deal it is that the Sixers replaced Tobias Harris with Paul George,” one user posted.
This is a rather common idea throughout the NBA community tonight, as many did not expect this great of a skill gap between Harris and George. The former Philadelphia forward averaged 17.2 points on 48.7% shooting last season compared to George’s 22.6 points on 47.1% shooting.
“Paul George’s game is sooooo smooth. I could legit watch this all day,” a fan wrote with a video of one of George’s highlights from the evening.
“When you watch Paul George in person, you can tell why so many young guys emulate and idolize him. The skill level is simply rare, combined with the size,” reporter Tony Jones shared.
Many were worried George’s age (34) would affect his impact on the Sixers this season. It’s already abundantly clear his experience will not be holding him back.
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