Regardless of where he stands now, two-way superstar Paul George was heavily respected by LA Clippers fans for most of his tenure. He carved a path to the team's first conference finals appearance, notched multiple prestigious honors, and drilled countless game-winners to gain fans' trust in the clutch.
Conversely, due to his age, the Clippers could not be more glad they saw the future and escaped his desired long-term contract. The Philadelphia 76ers are now facing the consequences of their actions for signing him on his terms.
In fact, the four-year, $212 million contract he signed is seen after just one season as one of the worst in franchise and league history. Philadelphia could have spent their cap space in many better ways, but they decided to pay a premium price for an aging superstar playing years after his prime.
That said, a major injury update on George was recently released, validating what the Clippers have been dealing with for years.
The Philadelphia 76ers are now the team suffering from Paul George's age and injury concern
To close out the first year of his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, Paul George appeared for 41 games, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, shooting 43.0% from the floor. These numbers are a massive step down from how he performed on the LA Clippers.
Furthermore, Shams Charania updated the NBA community with the news that George would miss the rest of the season with a six-week-long injury. This comes almost a month after he stepped away from his endeavors off the court.
Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George received injections in his left adductor muscle and left knee on Monday and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN. George is expected to be out at least six weeks. pic.twitter.com/TKVvBROp5E
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2025
Moreover, with head coach Tyronn Lue, Paul George was in a game plan that still allowed him to flourish in his 30s. He was great on both ends, but after year one in Philadelphia, the primary conclusion is that Lue knew the secret to effectively utilizing him.
Besides stretches of inconsistency, George's only flaw with the Clippers was staying on the court. He missed 126 games throughout five seasons, which created postseason difficulties for Lue and his staff.
With Philadelphia, 76ers fans must adjust to his age, which is one of the direct causes of his underwhelming performances, injury risk, and inability to dominate in the playoffs.
These are all factors Lue had to maneuver, which will inevitably worsen as George progresses through his max contract. This was expected from executive Lawrence Frank and the Clippers' front office.