All-Star forward Paul George has only been available for five games, but the Philadelphia 76ers are already seeing the outlines of the player they hoped would elevate their ceiling. The nine-time All-Star logged a season-high 28 minutes in Sundayâs loss to the Atlanta Hawks, marking his biggest step forward since returning from injury. It was also the clearest sign yet that he is beginning to trust his body again.
George delivered 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals in the extended run, offering Philadelphia the versatility on both ends that made him such a critical offseason addition. For a Sixers team still navigating its identity around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, a healthy and steady George changes the entire equation.
George Focused on Rhythm and Recovery
The priority for Philadelphia remains simple: monitor how George responds to each outing. He is 35 years old and working his way back into full conditioning, a process that requires patience from both player and staff. George emphasized after Sundayâs game that the increased workload felt right.
âI feel good,â George said. âI asked for more minutes out there. Just how the game was going, how my body was feeling. Back got a little tight, but thatâs gonna happen. That was the most minutes Iâve kind of played consecutively. Itâs nothing to be concerned with.â
Philadelphia will take encouragement from both the performance and the response. George pointed to rhythm as the next major hurdle in his return.
âAgain, I think itâs just now, just try to get rhythm,â he said. âThe biggest thing is just trying to find rhythm, and trying to keep rhythm, and seeing where shots will come. Iâm kind of the bird leaving the nest, getting to fly, flap my wings a little bit more. It feels good to be on the healthy side.â
The Sixers expected a ramp-up period when George signed. His game is built on timing, footwork and shot creation. All of that sharpens with repetition and comfort, not speed. His approach reflects a veteran who understands the long game and what the team will need from him in April.
Limited Attempts, Growing Trust
Through five games, George is averaging 14 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and two steals per contest while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 31 percent from three. The raw numbers do not concern Philadelphia. Instead, they reflect a measured approach as he plays only 23 minutes per game, his lowest mark since his rookie season.
His shot attempts also mirror that deliberate return. George is taking 11.6 attempts per game, his fewest since his second season with the Indiana Pacers, and 5.8 threes per game, also his lowest since that stage of his career. The Sixers have embraced Maxey as their offensive initiator, and George has deferred early as he works into form.
Managing the Schedule Ahead
The timing of Georgeâs progress arrives as Philadelphia enters a difficult stretch. The Sixers host the Washington Wizards on Tuesday before playing the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and traveling to Milwaukee on Friday. It is another three games in four nights, and the team must decide how aggressively to push him.
A softer section of the schedule from December 8 through December 11 may allow for a recalibrated plan. For now, every outing offers data. Every extended run offers clarity.
And every sign points to George trending upward. If his body continues to respond and his rhythm keeps building, the Sixers could soon see the full version of the player they envisioned, the one capable of altering their postseason ceiling.
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