Paul George hit his first three-pointer as a Celtic, and you could practically feel the relief from the guy. The 36-year-old has sunk nearly 3,000 threes in his NBA career, but this one, his first in green, meant something extra. He admitted afterward he felt “extra” nerves during his Celtics debut against the Philadelphia 76ers, eager to see that first shot finally drop after a few early misses. Man, even veterans get the jitters!
Shooting Struggles? Nah, He’s More Than Just Buckets
Look, his overall shooting numbers in the Celtics’ 144-106 preseason thrashing of the Sixers weren’t exactly highlight-reel material. George hit just 3 of 10 field goal attempts and 2 of 7 from beyond the arc. But here’s the thing: you watch the game, you see the impact, and it’s way more than just the box score. In just 25 minutes, George went out there and racked up 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists. That’s hustle, that’s making plays, and that’s exactly why he’s in Boston. He wasn’t just chasing shots; he was everywhere else, proving he’s a legit two-way force.
TD Garden Was Rocking, And He’s Ready to Unleash JT
The crowd at TD Garden? Absolutely electric! George said playing in front of that sold-out arena felt way more intense than your average preseason game. He loved it, saying, “It was amazing , it’s everything you feel as an opponent with that energy, that excitement, that passion, to then be on the good side of things. It’s electric; it definitely fuels you, makes you play hard; it makes you want to win for that everyone in that arena. And, it is like a badge of honor to wear that green.” That’s the kind of passion you want from your new star.
And get this, Saturday was the very first time George actually shared the floor with Jayson Tatum! Can you believe it? They’ve been on opposing teams all throughout training camp. George is totally focused on making the game easy for the 28-year-old Tatum, stating, “My job is just to make the game as easy as possible for JT. Today was literally our first time being on the same side , all camp we’ve been competing against each other. So today was our first opportunity to learn from each other and get a feel for one another. But again, my job is try to make this as easy as possible for him.” George has already said in multiple interviews that he believes Tatum has MVP upside, and he sees himself as the guy to help unlock that. “He’s going to be special. He’s going to be special. He knows how to make plays. He knows how to get his own shot. But if my aggression takes the pressure off him, and if I can find ways to steal the extra possessions defensively, or get him some easy baskets, that’s what I’m on that floor to do,” he explained. Talk about a veteran leader stepping up!
This was just his first game in green, a preseason tilt, but you can already see the vision. George felt the nerves, embraced the crowd, and immediately put the focus on making Tatum even better. That kind of selflessness and strategic thinking is what turns good teams into great ones. We’re just getting started with this duo, and it’s going to be awesome to watch them build that chemistry.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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