Paul George is walking into Boston with more questions than fanfare, but one preseason idea is suddenly worth taking seriously: an All-Star return might not be the long shot it first sounds like.
That’s the read from The Ringer’s Michael Pina, who included George in one of his 26 “bold” predictions and went a step further by saying George will make the All-Star team - with Jaylen Brown the odd man out. On paper, that might feel aggressive. But the case for George is built on something simpler than hype: if he’s healthy and in a better situation, he could look a lot more like the player who once filled up All-Star ballots year after year.
“George is a nine-time All-Star who, when he isn’t hurt, usually makes the All-Star team... As I write this, George is healthy, moving well, and holding a broad role for a team that should present plenty of opportunities for him to bounce back toward the scoring averages he enjoyed in Los Angeles.”
That part matters. After two down seasons in Philadelphia and with George now in his mid-30s, there isn’t much buzz around his first year as a Celtic.
But Boston could be exactly the kind of reset that changes the conversation. As Jayon Tatum’s right-hand man, he should see more touches than he did with the 76ers, and that alone gives him a real path to a scoring bump.
No one is expecting vintage, peak Paul George. That’s probably too much to ask.
But if Boston gets 85-90% of that version, it will take it in a heartbeat. George has already shown he can be a defensive force; if the offense comes along too, that’s when the ceiling starts to climb.
Still, the All-Star question comes with a catch. It’s not just about whether George can get back near his old level.
It’s also about who gets pushed out if he does. That’s the real hurdle.
Even so, he doesn’t have to make the All-Star team for this to work.
Boston’s first trip to the NBA Finals with the Jays is proof of that. Brown didn’t make the team that season, mostly because of injuries - and because Fred VanVleet turned into Steph - but the Celtics still made their run. The lesson is pretty straightforward: a team can be successful without every star piece collecting individual honors.
The same logic applies here. If George rebounds and still misses the All-Star Game, that shouldn’t undo what Boston is trying to build. The real test is whether he still has enough left to be the No. 2 option he was for so long and whether he fits cleanly into Mazzulla Ball.
An All-Star nod would be a bonus. Useful, sure.
Impressive, absolutely. But for Boston, it would be a luxury - not a requirement.
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