The season for the 76ers is nearing its halfway point, and George has missed 10 games so far. In the remaining 24 games, he has averaged 16.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals, with shooting percentages of 41.4%, 33.5%, and 85.3%. His scoring average is the lowest since his first two years in the league and the year he suffered a major injury, while his shooting percentage is a career low, and his three-point shooting percentage is the lowest since his rookie season. George's true shooting percentage is just over 50%, which is comparable to that of the Warriors' Waters.
Not to mention yesterday's game, where George shot 5 out of 18, scoring 13 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, as the 76ers lost by a 10-point margin. George's performance as an "iron man" was quite fitting.
This season, George has played 24 games, scoring over 30 points in only two of them, and exceeding 20 points in just five games. He has scored in single digits four times, and below 15 points in 14 games, which is more than half of the total. It can be said that even as the third option, he is not fulfilling his role effectively.
Now, it seems that no Clippers fan regrets letting George go, considering his big contract. It appears that someone got the short end of the stick in this deal. George's decline came unexpectedly. After all, in the previous two seasons, he was selected to the All-Star team and put up impressive stats of 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.5 steals, along with another set of 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals, all while maintaining solid shooting percentages.
As George approaches his mid-thirties, he relies more on his shooting than before, but for some reason, his performance has become very inconsistent. With a four-year contract under his belt and turning 35 soon, the likelihood of this contract becoming a burden is increasing. The 76ers are likely cursing their luck, feeling deceived by George's performance from the past two years, not expecting such a steep decline. George now spends his days focusing on his podcast, seemingly more interested in being number one in that field rather than on the basketball court.
This summer, the 76ers offered George a four-year, 212millioncontract,renewedMaxiforfiveyearsat204 million, and Embiid for three years at $193 million. These three max contracts were intended to help the team make a championship run, but due to injuries and individual performance issues, the 76ers are still fighting for a playoff spot, making the contracts seem even more problematic.
In truth, throughout his career, George's contracts have been commensurate with his value. His rookie contract was worth $10.5 million over four years. In his third season, he won the Most Improved Player award, finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, was an All-Star, and made the third team, which already justified the investment. In his fourth season, he continued to excel with 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, finishing ninth in MVP voting, seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and again making the All-Star team and third team.
The Pacers rewarded him with a five-year, $91.5 million extension. Unfortunately, he suffered a major injury in the first year of the contract, but he returned as a king the following year, once again making the All-Star team and third team. In his third year, he achieved a then-career-high scoring average and was again selected as an All-Star.
He later left Indiana for Oklahoma City, where the Thunder gave him a four-year, $137 million max contract. He lived up to this contract, finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, being an All-Star, making the third team, finishing third in MVP voting, third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, being an All-Star, and making the first team during the 18-19 season, reaching the pinnacle of his career!
In the summer of 2019, George was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he signed a four-year, $190 million supermax contract. Although his personal statistics declined somewhat in Los Angeles, this was relative to his peak period. However, he consistently maintained an All-Star status and put up solid numbers.
In the summer of 2024, at 34 years old, facing what could be his last big contract, the Clippers were unwilling to offer a max deal, but the 76ers extended an olive branch, and both sides quickly agreed. For the 76ers, this was a gamble, while for George, he had already secured his financial future, leaving everything else to depend on how much competitive spirit he still had.
