After a quiet preseason, Paul George dropped a franchise-record 38 points in his regular-season debut with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons.
While Boston came up short 121-113 on the road, the 36-year-old star forward, who joined the Celtics in a polarizing offseason trade, drew high praise from NBA fans, including for his rejuvenated defense.
Paul George Impresses With Two-Way Play in Record-Setting Celtics Debut
Early in the third quarter, George buried 3 3-pointers in less than a minute to push Boston ahead 72-50. The cushion didn’t last, though, as Cade Cunningham and the Pistons ultimately outscored the Celtics 76-55 after halftime.
George still left his mark, finishing 12-for-21 overall (57.1%), including 7-for-12 from deep (58.3%) in just 31 minutes. According to The Associated Press, the nine-time All-Star’s eye-popping scoring total was also the fifth-most by a player in their first game with an NBA franchise.
Unfortunately for George, his new co-star Jayson Tatum struggled offensively, posting 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting (26.1%), missing all 7 of his 3-point attempts, albeit while dishing out 11 assists.
Still, George’s unexpected milestone did not go unnoticed.
Basketball Performances, a highlights account, wrote that George “looked like vintage PG in his Celtics debut.”
George’s 5 steals led all players, and nobody else on either team finished with more than one.
NBA content creator Carson Breber lauded the veteran’s all-around contributions: “Elite shooter, strong secondary creator, willing passer, and still a fantastic defender, forcing turnovers like crazy. So underrated.”
One fan went further, posting that George “has been the best defensive player for either team.”
AFunkyDiabetic, another NBA content creator, kept it short: “Starting the Paul George all-defense agenda.”
Others referenced the offseason reaction to Boston’s decision to trade 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for the aging George and draft capital.
“Over the summer, it seemed like a lot of people didn’t want to consider the fact that Paul George might still be good at basketball,” Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey wrote.
NBA content creator Six Rings of Steel had the other side of the deal in mind: “I wonder what 76ers fans are thinking watching this Paul George Celtics debut masterclass.”
In his final preseason appearance, a 114-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets last Wednesday, George shot only 2-for-10, drawing harsh scrutiny. After Tuesday’s return to form, the forward reflected on his stark turnaround.
“I thought, really, the camp, legs were just heavy,” George said. “… But I’m getting my wind back. I’m getting my legs back. I feel like I’m getting my pop back, and so that was kind of the difference maker.”
George’s next chance to build on his sensational debut comes Friday, when the Celtics (0-1) host the defending champion New York Knicks (0-1) at TD Garden.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.