The first Celtics-76ers meeting since the Brown-George swap brings an easy side plot with it: which new arrival has looked better in his new home so far?
Jaylen Brown and Paul George have both settled in quickly, and both teams have reasons to like what they’ve seen. Brown is still operating in his prime after 10 seasons in Boston, while George is in his 17th NBA season and clearly on the back end of his career.
But the fit around them tells part of the story, too. Brown is working in a more crowded lineup alongside Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and Joel Embiid, while George has had more defined chances next to Jayson Tatum.
That setup has made this trade look solid for both sides through the early going. Brown has been exactly what the 76ers expected, and George’s production in Boston has already looked stronger than what he delivered across his two seasons in Philadelphia.
Tuesday night’s game will be the first time the two teams have met since the deal, and it will also be the first time Brown and Tatum face each other as opponents. But the head-to-head that will matter most inside the game is Brown versus George.
Here’s how the two have stacked up so far with their new teams:
Paul George vs. Jaylen Brown Stats Comparison
Paul George
Games: 9
MPG: 30.1
PPG: 20.4
RPG: 5.2
APG: 4.1
SPG: 2.3
BPG: 0.4
FG%: 46.5%
3P%: 42.5%
FT%: 80.8%
Jaylen Brown
Games: 10
MPG: 35.8
PPG: 22.3
RPG: 6.7
APG: 4.0
SPG: 1.2
BPG: 0.4
FG%: 47.7%
3P%: 39.2%
FT%: 71.4%
Brown has the edge in the box score almost across the board, and that starts with his heavier workload. He’s playing more than four extra minutes per game, which helps explain why his scoring and rebounding numbers sit a little higher. Both players are doing plenty of damage, though, with each averaging more than 20 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.
Brown has also been heating up lately. Over his last four games, he’s averaging 27.3 points and has grabbed at least five rebounds in every one of them. George has had his own strong stretch, too, with two 25-point games in his last three outings, though those performances came around his lowest scoring game of the season.
For Brown, the numbers fit neatly with what he’s done over his career, even if they’re down from last season’s breakout. Two years ago, he posted similar all-around production while sharing the spotlight with Jayson Tatum instead of carrying the load as a clear No. 1 option.
George’s case looks different. His defensive impact jumps off the page, especially with 2.3 steals per game, a mark that sits in the top five in the NBA.
He’s also been the better outside shooter, hitting 42.5 percent from three compared with Brown’s 39.2 percent. Brown has been more efficient overall, but George has given Boston more from long range.
The biggest contrast is how George has rebounded from his Philadelphia production. From 2024-26, he averaged just 16.7 points per game and shot 37.5 percent from three, numbers that fell well short of expectations for a player on that contract.
There’s still plenty of season left, but after the first several weeks, both teams have to feel good about the way their new stars have started.
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That adjustment matters because the Celtics have been looking for another player who can keep the attack flowing when the structure changes, and George has given them exactly that kind of flexibility. Hes been productive whether Jayson Tatum is on the floor or not, which is a useful sign for a team that needs reliable offense across different lineup combinations. The early returns suggest Boston may have found a cleaner fit for George than the one he had in his last two stops, and the next question is how far that comfort can carry once the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]