Paul George is set to walk back into Philadelphia for the first time since the trade that sent him to the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, and he’s already making his case for a friendlier reception.
George recently joked that he helped the Sixers land Brown, a line that could shape how the crowd greets him Tuesday night.
“In some ways, I helped land them [the Sixers] a future piece [Jaylen Brown]. So with that, I'm not sure how the reception will be,” George said.
It’s a pretty bold way to look at a blockbuster deal, but there’s no denying the move has worked out for both sides. Boston has gotten strong production from George, who has fit alongside Jayson Tatum and helped lift the Celtics. Philadelphia, meanwhile, brought in Brown and immediately added another elite two-way force who can swing games on offense and defend at a high level.
The Sixers have quickly climbed into the mix among the Eastern Conference’s top teams, and Brown has been a major reason why.
That said, George should probably brace for plenty of boos. Philadelphia fans don’t tend to hand out warm welcomes to former stars returning in opposing colors, and a Celtics jersey won’t help matters. Still, his point is hard to ignore: the Sixers did end up with Brown, a proven star in his prime, along with future draft compensation in the deal.
Boston, on the other side, got a veteran who can complement Tatum and keep the Celtics in the championship picture.
"In some ways, I helped land them [the Sixers] a future piece [Jaylen Brown]. So with that, I'm not sure how the reception will be."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 10, 2026
Celtics' Paul George on what kind of reception he thinks he'll get from the Philly crowd tonight.
(via @CelticsCLNS) pic.twitter.com/RCfOe8Skud
Tuesday’s game also brings Brown against his former teammates for the first time since the trade, which gives the matchup even more weight early in the season. George may take some heat when he steps on the floor, but he can at least point to the fact that Philadelphia got one of basketball’s best two-way players because of the deal.
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