Paul George still loves his 76ers bros Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe after Celtics trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BOSTON — For the first time since the Philadelphia 76ers’ blockbuster Paul George trade to the Boston Celtics over the summer, he faced his former teammates in a preseason matchup at TD Garden. Fans wondered how Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum would greet each other in their first meeting since the offseason trade, but it never happened, even after Brown went through his pregame workout.
George made his unofficial Celtics debut in a 144-106 blowout Sixers blowout loss. He finished with 13 points, five steals, and five rebounds. LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Brown didn’t suit up for the 76ers. After the game, George reflected on time with former teammates, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Embiid.
“I love those guys,” George said. “Jo, Tyrese, VJ, JE. I think these long-lasting relationships that you build along the way of this journey here. VJ calls me almost every other week. I talk to him. Tyrese has called me a lot of times throughout the summer. I’ll go back to Philly to see my family. Jo lives about five-ten minutes from me. So, I see him. Our kids are in the same schools. So, we see each other. So, there’s still a brotherhood over there, so it was great to see those guys and now compete against them.”
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VJ Edgecombe led the 76ers in scoring with 19 points. Jabari Walker finished with 14 points and six rebounds, and Labaron Philon Jr. led the bench with 14 points and seven assists. Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 25 points off the bench. Jayson Tatum finished with 23 points, including four threes, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Ahead of Edgecombe’s second season with the 76ers, Paul George recalled taking the rookie guard under his wing last season and said the two built a genuine connection.
“I spent a ton of time with VJ, and hopefully, it’s just an impact if I help him in any way become a better basketball player, a better person. I love the kid,” George said. “We spent a ton of time together, and if it’s anything that he took away from it is I guess just being genuine, truly, and be there for him in any way I could, and I thought I tried to give it everything I had when I could, and be available when I could for those guys.”
The Celtics and 76ers will run it back when the Sixers host the Celtics in their respective preseason finale on Friday.
Related: Watch 76ers’ Joel Embiid hilariously compare hand sizes with Tacko Fall