Celtics' Joe Mazzulla reveals big Paul George impact that he loves so far after win vs. 76ers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
NBA veterans tend to see their production and gravity dwindle over time. It may take longer for that to happen to Paul George. The Boston Celtics saw him become a perfect complement to Jayson Tatum during their 144-106 NBA Preseason over the Philadelphia 76ers. Coach Joe Mazzulla loved every second of the 17-year veteran meshing well with the rest of the roster. The head honcho even outlined a significant impact he loves from the player traded for Jaylen Brown.
Celtics' Mazzulla sees one big George impact that he loves after NBA Preseason win vs. 76ers
One-dimensional is probably the worst way to describe Paul George. Even on off-shooting nights, he makes it a point to impact the game with playmaking, rebounding, or on-ball defense. The Celtics saw this firsthand when the veteran popped off and eliminated them in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Now, Coach Joe Mazzulla has the luxury of having him on their roster alongside Jayson Tatum. Hot-shooting nights aren't guaranteed, but the Celtics head coach admires a different skill set from their secondary wing.
What seems to be the one thing that Coach Mazzulla is hooked on? It all comes down to George being an active presence on both ends of the floor, even without exceptional shooting runs, via Jay King of The Athletic.
“He’s got great instincts. Great instincts, great technique, great positioning. It’s something he takes pride in, but I do think it’s very contagious. I think it’s just the activity. So I think Paul helps that. That’s one of the best things he does. I think we saw that on a couple of possessions. I think that just becomes contagious when guys are able to do that," the Celtics head coach declared.
George showed versatility and resilience in the Celtics' 38-point win over his former team, the 76ers. The Celtics veteran still got 13 points despite shooting 30% from the field and 28.6% from three. He scored most of those points by drawing fouls from the 76ers' defenders and shooting 83.3% from the free-throw line.
Paul George Celtics debut: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 5 STL, 3/10 FG https://t.co/tCbEzIpOLC
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) October 11, 2026
Coach Mazzulla also saw George be disruptive beyond his scoring and free-throw prowess. He grabbed five rebounds and dropped three assists. More importantly, the Celtics saw him come into form as one of the NBA's best point-of-attack defenders, with five steals. By the end, George finished with +19 plus-minus, giving the Celtics their second straight NBA Preseason win.
"Just to be able to be his teammate and learn from him and take on the role of any kind of mentor or assistance to myself and other guys. I obviously watched him play for a long time. It’s cool to be a part of it," Tatum said about George.
The Celtics clearly need this kind of versatility, one that doesn't stall their offense or make their defense drop off. Coach Mazzulla knows Tatum needs a complement that doesn't eat up his shots or usage rate, unlike before.