Paul George is going back to the number that helped define his NBA identity.
This offseason, Ron Harper Jr. told Brandon Robinson that he had given George No. 13, the number Harper wore last season. That clears the way for George to return to the jersey he made famous after beginning his career in No. 24 and later spending time in No. 8 with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The reason behind No. 13 is simple and pretty sharp: George’s initials and jersey number line up to form PG-13. The nickname works as a nod to the movie rating that stands for "Parents Strongly Cautioned" because some material might not be appropriate for anyone under the age of 13.
Bill Simmons pushed the idea into the mainstream back in 2013, when he suggested George should switch numbers so he could fully lean into the PG-13 label.
George later put his own spin on what it meant.
"The whole thing behind PG-13 is coming into my own," George said. "I feel I'm at that stage where I'm ready to embrace everything that comes with being one of the young stars in this league. The whole thing is being able to enjoy the show and being fun to watch."
George first wore No. 24 as a tribute to his favorite player of all time, Kobe Bryant. When he joined Philadelphia, both No. 13 and No. 24 were retired there, so he went with Bryant’s other number, No. 8.
In Boston, George will be the 27th player in Celtics history to wear No. 13. Malcolm Brogdon, Tristan Thompson and Delonte West are among the names who have worn it before him.
In Other News...
Paul George Already Has Celtics Fans Thinking About One Bigger Question
Paul Georges first scenes in Celtics gear at the Auerbach Center were enough to get the conversation moving again around Boston. After years of speculation and patience from the front office, the Celtics finally made the move to bring in a player whose career has long been defined by elite two-way talent, tough stretches with injuries, and the kind of pedigree that changes the tone around a roster.
Now the bigger question is less about whether George fits and more about how he fits next to Jayson Tatum. Boston has spent plenty of time imagining this kind of addition, and the early workout imagery only sharpens the debate over whether George is arriving as a featured option or as the kind of complementary piece that can make an already formidable group even harder to handle. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Decision Fans Will Want To Watch
The Celtics frontcourt suddenly looks a little more crowded after bringing in Mitchell Robinson, fresh off a championship season with the Knicks, and that naturally puts a spotlight on how Boston wants to sort out its big-man rotation. Neemias Queta addressed the addition with the kind of calm, team-first tone coaches usually appreciate, saying he sees Robinson as a positive addition and making it clear those lineup calls belong to Joe Mazzulla.
Queta also pointed out the part that makes this worth watching: he and Robinson do not bring exactly the same thing to the floor. That gives Boston some real options depending on the matchup, but it also means the rotation picture could be more fluid than it was before Robinson arrived. For a Celtics team trying to balance roles and strengths up front, this is one of those situations that could develop into a useful weapon or a tricky decision. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Trade Idea Reopens A Painful Depth Versus Fit Debate
A fresh trade proposal has reopened one of the Celtics more familiar roster debates: whether the team should lean into fit or keep valuing the depth that has helped carry it through long stretches of the season. The idea on the table would bring Cam Johnson from the Denver Nuggets to Boston in exchange for Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and a 2030 second-round pick, a move framed as one that could help both sides from a basketball and financial standpoint.
For the Celtics, the appeal is obvious enough to understand why it keeps coming up. Johnson would add another layer of size and versatility to a rotation already built around wing play, while Pritchard and Hauser represent the kind of dependable depth Boston has learned not to take for granted. It is still only a speculative pitch, not an actual deal, but it lands right in the middle of the tension that has followed this roster for a while: how much depth is too much to give up when the fit looks cleaner on paper? [Read more 🡒]