Although his trade was one of the most criticised decisions among the whole Celtics fanbase, Paul George could not be happier with the change of scene he has enjoyed this summer. Although he has only been with the franchise for a few months and his first season has not officially started yet, the forward told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe that he is delighted with his new situation, to the point of already being clear that he would like to spend several years with the Massachusetts club.
“The locker room, the culture, the management, the city, the franchise, the tradition… It’s something I had never been able to be part of,” he acknowledged. “Everything is of very high quality, and it’s a very refreshing feeling. I think over the course of my career I’ve become a nomad, but right now I would love to be able to consider Boston my home.”
In fact, George has gone even further and has assured that being in contact with his teammates and the staff is making him enjoy basketball again. Whether this translates into a version of him that comes close to his best years remains to be seen.
“I’m integrating very well with the franchise and with more teammates. I’m more than happy; I’m elated to be here. It’s as if they’ve rescued a part of me that had been buried for a long time, and that creates a different kind of passion. I feel passion for the sport again, and I think everything is falling into the right place.”
Paul George faces a complicated situation this season, one in which he will feel the pressure of replacing one of the franchise’s prodigal sons, yet on the other hand nobody seems to expect much from him. After years with the 76ers marred by physical problems and a lack of consistency, there are those who, at 36 years old, seem to have already given up on the forward, who, with this renewed optimism, may perhaps be given an opportunity for redemption.