The Philadelphia 76ers needed one of their stars to suit up.
They were 1-4 after five games, and while it’s still early in the season, they don’t want to play catch-up all year.
That’s why the fans were so excited to hear that Paul George had finally been cleared to make his season debut.
Unfortunately, as pointed out by Legion Hoops on X, he wasn’t particularly at his best in this game.
He scored 15 points on 14 shots, went 1-of-7 from three-point range, and turned the ball over seven times.
Paul George in his 76ers debut:
15 points
7 turnovers
4/14 FG
1/7 3P pic.twitter.com/4AovtCur55— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 5, 2024
Needless to say, it didn’t take long before the fans flooded social media to crack a laugh about this performance.
Yo, Paul George is rusty. He's working his way back from injury. Cut him a break.
— Randy Ragsdale (@SashaMania36) November 5, 2024
Early preview of playoffs ??
— KD’s Burner ? (@KD_SZN7) November 5, 2024
Pandemic P back just in time for the election ?
— The Real One (@_PraiseTheXI_) November 5, 2024
WHY DOES MAXEY NOT HAVE THE BALL IN HIS HANDS THERE
— ??? (@HoodiiBron) November 5, 2024
Maxey should've taken that shot that PG took with less than a minute to go. I get that it would've been a great moment had PG hit it but it should've been Maxey's shot…
— NBAinthezone™️ (@NBAinthezone) November 5, 2024
For whatever reason, George has been one of the trolls’ favorite victims.
He has a history of falling short when it matters the most, but he’s also had some very good playoff performances, not to mention being one of the best two-way players in the league.
More than that, we’re talking about someone who overcame one of the most gruesome and career-threatening injuries in basketball history and still returned to an All-Star level, and people don’t talk enough about that.
George needed to shake off the rust and get his legs back under him.
He will only get better and more in control, and better performances should be ahead.
Still, the Sixers will only go as far as Joel Embiid can take them, and with him not playing back-to-backs and constantly being hurt, this could be an uphill race for Nick Nurse’s team.
NEXT: Nick Nurse Makes Concerning Statement After 76ers' Loss On Saturday
