Paul George addressed the media for the first time since signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency in Camden in front of a packed house of family and media. George discussed how he ended up in Philly, his fit on the team, his relationship with Joel, and more.
He is joining a team with two all-stars, one of whom is a former MVP and one of the most dominant players in the NBA today. It will be an adjustment for all three players involved.
When asked what he would say to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey about being a part of a big three and how to navigate that, George responded:
“That’s easy man, just go win. Let’s go win. There’s no ego with me…it’s not about shots for me; it’s not about having the ball in my hands the whole game… It’s about winning, that’s all I care about is trying to put everything towards that.”
There will be an adjustment period in training camp and throughout the season that each player will go through and moments they will have that will test each player’s ability to fluctuate roles. Being a part of a big three in the NBA doesn’t always guarantee success, but it can push you over the hump if the right players can come together.
Just not working
The big three in the NBA have had varied amounts of success in recent years, some failing to win championships for different reasons. The most recent Big Three assembled in Phoenix by bringing together Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker. They haven’t been as successful as people have hoped due to their fit, which isn’t a clean fit due to the redundancy of Beal and Booker.
Health also can determine the success of a big three, with the current iteration of the Suns being bit by the injury bug since they were put together last summer. The Brooklyn Nets had a historical team that included Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving but rarely played on the court together for various health/injury reasons. If Kyrie Irving and James Harden hadn’t sustained injuries, the Nets may have won the championship in 2021 instead of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sacrificing for a championship
The Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Golden State Warriors have all had success in the last twenty years with their respective big threes. All three teams won a championship while having three all-stars on the roster at one time.
Boston boasted a roster that included Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen and won a championship in their first year together. Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh teamed up in Miami to win two championships in four years, including back-to-back wins in 2012 and 2013. The Golden State Warriors were able to convince Kevin Durant to join Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and would have three-peated if it wasn’t for Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury during the 2019 NBA Finals.
All these players chose to sacrifice their normal roles to help the team win. They changed their game in some capacity to help another player feel comfortable and put ego aside when it truly mattered. Bosh went from being the Raptors’ number one option to being the third option and standing in the corner to shoot threes. Steph Curry stepped aside to allow Kevin Durant to feel comfortable and be the focal point of the offense in order to win.
Coming together in Philly
Daryl Morey has done a tremendous job this offseason, going out and getting the third star that fits seamlessly on paper. For this to work, George, Embiid, and Maxey must sacrifice to make it work on the court, which all have stated they are willing to do.
While speaking with the media, Paul George discussed how Philly’s being part of a big three in Philly.
“That’s really the conversation we need to have, myself, Joel, and Tyrese. Whatever it takes. Let’s go do it. Let’s get the job done, and then we relay that to the team.”
They also need to stay healthy, as Embiid and George have had a history of injury and durability in the playoffs and during the regular season, something else George discussed as he side-eyed his new head coach.
“I think taking the pressure off Joel. I think it’s fair to say… we don’t want to see him isolate at the top of the key. I think [I can] kind of help him get through a season healthy. Again, it’s just not putting so much pressure on [himself] regardless of how good you feel. I think pressure causes a lot of injuries as well. I think you have to get through and play. Having to touch every possession that kind of just wears you down, especially for how physical he is. So that’s, that’s just the key. Everybody, in part, but our part.”
They will rely on each other to stay healthy during the season, trying to take pressure off one another during the game. This team has the potential to be a legitimate contender for the title next season, with a textbook fit with their three stars. They have to put their egos aside and just win.
