BOSTON — For one night, Paul George looked like the player the Celtics traded for. Not the aging veteran with a lengthy injury history, not the contract albatross that many around the league believed Boston had taken on to rid themselves of Jaylen Brown. On Tuesday night at TD Garden, George scored 36 points on 13-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-11 from three-point range, as the Celtics demolished the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101. It was his highest-scoring game in a Celtics uniform, and it came against the team that traded him away.
The question is unavoidable: is Paul George back to his best? The honest answer is more complicated than a single explosive night.
The Performance: A Masterclass in Efficiency
George’s 36 points were not empty calories. He scored at every level—pull-up threes, catch-and-shoot threes, mid-range fadeaways, and drives to the rim. He added five rebounds and four assists while committing just two turnovers. His plus-minus was +28, the highest of any player on either team.
What made the performance particularly striking was the context. George was facing the 76ers, the team that traded him to Boston in July for Jaylen Brown and a package of draft picks. He was also playing alongside Jayson Tatum, the Celtics’ franchise cornerstone, who finished with 21 points. And he was doing it in front of a Boston crowd that had spent much of the early season wondering whether the trade was a mistake.
George was not interested in revisiting the narrative after the game. “It’s just another game,” he said. “I’m happy we got the win. That’s all that matters.” But his teammates were more forthcoming. “That’s what Paul can do,” Tatum said. “He’s a Hall of Famer. He’s been doing this his whole career. We just need him to be aggressive and be himself.”
The Context: A Slow Start to the Season
George’s explosion against Philadelphia did not come out of nowhere, but it did come after a relatively modest start to his Celtics tenure.
Through the first ten games of the season, George was averaging 18.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 43.2% shooting from the field and 36.1% from three. Those are solid numbers for most players, but they are below the standard George set during his prime—and below what the Celtics hoped for when they acquired him.
The concern was not just the statistics. It was the eye test. George looked a step slower, particularly on defense, where he struggled to stay in front of quicker wings. He was also deferring to Tatum more than expected, often settling for catch-and-shoot threes rather than attacking off the dribble. There were flashes of the old George—a pull-up jumper here, a steal and dunk there—but they were intermittent.
The 36-point outburst against Philadelphia was the first time all season that George looked like the player who made nine All-Star teams and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2019.
The Injury History: The Inevitable Caveat
Any discussion of Paul George’s performance must include his injury history. The 36-year-old has missed significant time throughout his career, including a horrific leg injury in 2014 while playing for Team USA, a shoulder injury in 2019, and various knee and hamstring issues in recent seasons. He has played more than 70 games in a season just once since 2018-19.
This is why the Celtics’ acquisition of George was viewed with skepticism around the league. He is owed $162 million over the next three seasons, a contract that many analysts believed would become a burden as he aged. The 76ers, who signed George to that contract in 2024, were reportedly eager to move on. The Celtics saw an opportunity to acquire a talented veteran who could provide scoring and leadership alongside Tatum and Tatum’s new co-star, Paul George.
The question is whether George can stay healthy. The 36-point game is encouraging, but it is one game. The Celtics need George to be available in April and May, not just November.
The Fit: A New Role in Boston
The most interesting aspect of George’s performance against Philadelphia was how he fit alongside Tatum. The two played off each other beautifully, with Tatum drawing double-teams and George taking advantage of the open space. George also handled the ball more than he had in previous games, running pick-and-rolls and creating for others.
“He’s a natural scorer,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He can get his own shot, and he can make plays for others. We need him to be aggressive. We need him to be a threat. Tonight, he was.”
The question is whether George can sustain that aggression. He has spent much of his career as a secondary option—first behind Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, then behind Kawhi Leonard with the Clippers. In Boston, he is behind Tatum. But Tatum’s presence creates space and opportunities that George has not always had. If he can embrace being the second option on a contender, he could be a perfect fit.
Back to His Best? Not Yet, But the Signs Are Encouraging
Is Paul George back to his best? The honest answer is: not yet, but he is closer than he has been in years.
One game does not erase a season of inconsistency. It does not answer the questions about his health. It does not guarantee that he will be available when the Celtics need him most. But it does show that the talent is still there. The 36 points against Philadelphia were not a fluke. They were a reminder of what George can do when he is healthy, aggressive, and confident.
The Celtics do not need George to be the player he was in 2019. They need him to be a reliable third option behind Tatum and Brown—wait, Brown is gone. They need him to be a reliable second option behind Tatum, a player who can score 20 points on efficient shooting, defend multiple positions, and provide veteran leadership in the playoffs.
If Tuesday night is a sign of things to come, the Celtics may have pulled off one of the most lopsided trades in recent NBA history. If it is an outlier, the questions will return. For now, Boston can enjoy the win, and Paul George can enjoy the reminder that he is still capable of nights like this.
