Paul George dropped 36 points in his first return to Philadelphia, leading the Boston Celtics to a victory that instantly became the best performance of his inaugural season in Boston. While the highlight plays were flying, it was George’s viral confrontation with a 76ers fan that captured all the headlines after the final buzzer.
The Fiery Return to the City of Brotherly Shove
George, who spent the previous two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, clearly had this game circled on his calendar. He looked completely settled in with the Celtics, putting on an absolute show with 36 points and leading Boston to the win. Philly sports fans are never ones to hold back, and they made sure George heard them all game, despite his past with the team. PG13 was on fire, and he made sure to respond to the jeering crowd. It all culminated in George flashing a middle finger to a fan, and if you are wondering if he regrets it, the answer is a hard no. George feels his reaction was completely valid.
“Being an A**hole”: George Explains His Gesture
After the game, George didn’t shy away from explaining exactly what went down. He told Noa Dalzell that the fan was “being an asshole.” According to George, this fan “dropped the ball on the ground as if I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it instead of passing the ball to me as a normal fan would do.” So, yeah, George “rolled him a middle finger in return.” It’s another wild entry into the growing list of players having confrontations with fans, a list that includes Luka Doncic getting a fan kicked out earlier this season.
What’s Next for PG13?
The NBA will probably take a look at this situation, because you can bet they are not thrilled about it. However, there’s a precedent here that might just save George from a fine. Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart flashed middle fingers earlier this season and didn’t get hit with any punishment. If that holds true, George might just get away with this without a problem. It’s clear PG isn’t too concerned, especially after a huge 36-point night where he celebrated being more impactful with the Celtics than he was with the 76ers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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