When the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George to a four-year, $211.6 million maximum contract in free agency, it was the greatest story of the 2024 NBA summer. Joel Embiid, a center for the Sixers who is an All-Star, showed his excitement for the move while at the Team USA camp in Las Vegas.
“On paper, and as far as the fit, it looks fantastic because you got both guys that can play off the ball, and they can play on ball and they’re great shooters and they can handle the ball, and then you also got me,” he told Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “So, yeah, it looks great.”
George has averaged at least 22 points, five rebounds and three assists per game in each of the past nine seasons. He shot a career-high 47.1% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range on 7.9 attempts per game last year. The Sixers haven’t had a wing quite like him throughout Embiid’s tenure.
But it won’t be a Big Two alliance that they form. Tyrese Maxey, who won the NBA’s Most Improved Player title and received his first All-Star berth last season, is another player on the Sixers roster.
The new Sixers forward was all smiles when talking about both of his new teammates on his Podcast P with Paul George.
Maxey was praised by George as “a star.” “He’s a star, as we all know. He is capable of being the best option. And you require his youthful vitality and legs.”
He spoke of Embiid with even greater enthusiasm.
