Joel Embiid Calls Paul George, 76ers Fit 'Amazing'; Says His Patience Has Been Tested
July 8, 2024
Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid is excited about his fit alongside new free-agent acquisition Paul George.
"Yeah, I think as far as the fit, it looks amazing," Embiid said in an interview on SportsCenter (h/t ESPN's Tim Bontemps). "It is great, especially when you got a big ... I don't like to call myself a big, but when you got a player that posts up and that isos quite a bit, you need to have willing shooters and guys that are not afraid to pull the trigger."
After spending the past five years with the Los Angeles Clippers, George declined a $48.8 million player option to return to the team for the 2024-25 season. Then, the nine-time All-Star joined the 76ers on a four-year maximum contract worth $212 million.
George should help Philadelphia contend for the Eastern Conference crown next season after the team suffered a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks in 2024. Embiid admitted that the team's lack of playoff success throughout his tenure with the organization has weighed on him.
"I'd be lying to say that patience wasn't tested," Embiid said, via Bontemps. "Because I'm at the point where there's no awards, there's no regular season or no All-NBA or All-Stars is going to change the way my legacy is. Well, there's a few things that can change it, but the main one is the championship."
"So when you start thinking about what you want to be remembered at, you want to be remembered as someone that's won," he added.
Embiid, George, and Tyrese Maxey should form one of the NBA's most imposing trios next season. Maxey is coming off a breakout year, averaging a career-high 25.9 points per game on 45.0/37.3/86.8 shooting splits and earning Most Improved Player honors.
He was rewarded with his own five-year, $204 million contract extension from the team on July 1.
If the three stars are able to remain relatively healthy next season, they'll look to help Philadelphia improve upon a No. 7 finish in the Eastern Conference standings.