The Philadelphia 76ers brought in Paul George to be the third pillar of their championship pursuit - a seasoned, two-way star to complement Joel Embiid’s dominance and Tyrese Maxey’s rising brilliance. But the early returns on that trio have been more about injuries and inconsistency than highlight reels and chemistry.
George missed 41 games last season and has already sat out 14 more to start this one. That’s not exactly the launch Philly envisioned.
Enter Dominick Barlow - the unexpected stabilizer.
While George works his way back to full strength, Barlow has quietly stepped into the void, giving the Sixers exactly what they need: a versatile forward who can defend, rebound, pass, and chip in offensively without needing plays called for him. He’s not replicating George’s All-Star ceiling - few can - but he’s checking enough boxes to keep Philly competitive and, more importantly, buy George time to ramp up without risking further injury.
Let’s be clear: George’s résumé speaks for itself. Nine-time All-Star.
Six-time All-NBA. Four-time All-Defensive team member.
He’s built his career on doing a bit of everything - scoring at all three levels, locking down wings, rebounding, facilitating - and doing it all at a high level. That’s the version of George the Sixers need if they’re going to make a serious postseason run.
But for now, Barlow is holding down the fort.
Through 10 games this season, Barlow is averaging 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.6 steals in just under 27 minutes per game. He’s shooting a clean 53.3% from the field and knocking down his free throws at a solid 76.9% clip. Those numbers don’t scream “star,” but they do point to a player who’s impacting the game on both ends - and doing it within the flow of the team.
What’s been more telling than the averages is the way Barlow’s played in recent games since returning from an early-season injury. He opened the year with a strong showing - 13 points, eight boards, five assists, and a block in a win over Orlando.
Then came the injury setback. But since rejoining the rotation, he’s picked up right where he left off.
Against Orlando again, he dropped 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a block. Then came a double-double - 10 points and 10 boards - with four assists and a block in a bounce-back win over Brooklyn.
And in a double-overtime thriller against Atlanta, Barlow logged a whopping 45 minutes, putting up 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. That’s a full stat line in a high-pressure game, and it speaks to the trust the coaching staff already has in him.
In each of those games, Barlow showed he can provide the kind of well-rounded production the Sixers typically expect from George. He’s not the go-to scorer George is, but he’s consistently contributing across the board - defending, rebounding, moving the ball, and finishing plays. That kind of versatility is invaluable, especially when one of your stars is still on a minutes restriction.
And speaking of George - the signs of life are there. He had 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting in just 21 minutes against Brooklyn.
Against Atlanta, he played 28 minutes and filled the box score with seven rebounds, four assists, and five steals. That’s the kind of two-way impact that made Philly pursue him in the first place.
But the key here is that George doesn’t need to be that guy every night just yet. Not with Barlow stepping up.
The 76ers can afford to be patient, letting George ease back into his full workload without rushing or risking another setback. That’s a luxury not many teams have when one of their stars is sidelined.
So while the headlines might still revolve around Embiid’s MVP-level play or Maxey’s continued ascent, don’t overlook what Barlow is doing. He’s not just filling in - he’s thriving in a role that requires maturity, awareness, and a willingness to do the dirty work. And he’s doing it at a time when the Sixers desperately needed someone to hold the line.
If George finds his rhythm and Barlow keeps this up, Philly’s forward rotation could become one of the most quietly effective in the league - and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the East.