Paul George enjoys torching Sixers, relishes off-court time with Celtics

· Yahoo Sports

PHILADELPHIA — Getting open look after open look in a "revenge game" is a dream for an NBA star. That was the scenario for Boston Celtics wing Paul George on Tuesday night, as the nine-time All-Star torched the Philadelphia 76ers — who traded him this past summer — and silenced the home crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

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George finished the 123-101 rout with 36 points (on 63.6 shooting from the field) and nearly outscored the Sixers by himself in the fourth quarter, putting up 14 points in 7 minutes to Philly's total of 19 points in the final frame. And while embarrassing his former squad and mocking rowdy Sixers fans gave him some satisfaction, the 36-year-old has found more enjoyment elsewhere.

"That was fun," George admitted in the locker room. "I think the most fun is the camaraderie. And sorry to give you the most cliché answer ever, but the most fun is just the camaraderie, being around these guys, the locker room, the flights. That's the most fun that I've had in a while."

After a mediocre preseason, George quickly gelled with the Green Team. He kicked things off with 38 points in his first game with the C's (the most by any player in a Celtics debut) and has cruised from there, averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per outing through 10 contests.

The Sixers should've taken George's recent performances into account on Tuesday, because they left him wide open on multiple occasions. The most obvious example came about halfway through the fourth quarter, when the California native splashed a dagger 3-pointer and turned to chest-bump Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

There's no denying that George was having fun in that moment.

"I've been playing some of my best basketball of late and just been enjoying grinding out with these guys out here," George said prior to Tuesday night's blowout win, via CLNS Media. "It’s just a fun style of play. And again, I can't talk (enough) about just the thrill and the happiness and excitement and joy that it has brought being here.”

Perhaps most importantly, George entered the 2026-27 campaign at full strength. The veteran wing said that he enjoyed his time in Philly, yet he never truly felt healthy. That's one reason why he was able to leave the Sixers on good terms and still have the respect of his former teammates, who know what he's capable of when he isn't hurt.

"The majority of those guys on the other side — those are brothers," George described of his old squad.

Instead of harping on the fact that Philadelphia traded him, George has embraced his new beginnings and the chemistry he's created in Boston. That mentality, along with his health, could explain why the future Hall of Famer has been an integral part of the Celtics' 9-2 start to the season.

"It's just a good group of guys competing out there," George said of the rest of the Celtics. "And then it transfers on the court. You see how much fun we have off the court by how we play on the court."

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Paul George enjoys torching Sixers, relishes off-court time with Celtics

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