“He’s our version of Shaq” – Paul George lauds new 76ers teammate Joel Embiid’s offensive dominance in NBA
The Philadelphia 76ers formed a new big three over the summer by signing nine-time All-Star Paul George. While this acquisition is certainly exciting for the fans, the players themselves have plenty to look forward to also.
The Sixers’ core gains an elite two-way player while George gets to pair up with an MVP-caliber talent in Joel Embiid and a young rising star in Tyrese Maxey.
While George is yet to suit up with Embiid, he already has high praise for the big man. On his show Podcast P with Paul George, the Sixers’ newest star was asked how one would go about stopping Embiid.
While answering this query, George compared Embiid to one of the greatest centers to play in the NBA.
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“You can’t stop him,” George said. “He’s too big, he’s agile, he can shoot, he can step out from the three-point line. He’s just a big body. He’s our generation and our version of (Shaquille O’Neal). There’s nobody we can put on Shaq.”
George then shared how Embiid’s deep repertoire makes him unguardable. Afterward, he also talked about how he finds Embiid funny and added that the two of them have a great relationship.
To say that Joel Embiid has evolved into one of the most reliable scorers in the league would be an understatement. He led the league in points per game in 2021-22 (30.6 ppg) and ’22-’23 (33.1 ppg).
Last season, he averaged 34.7 points per game, which would have led the league again. However, due to the injury that sidelined him, the league removed him from the league leaders. This meant Luka Doncic led the league in points with 33.9 per game.
Paul George and Embiid together also form a strong defensive frontcourt. George had led the league in steals in 2019 with 2.2 per game. He has also been named to two all-defensive first teams (2014, 2019) and two all-defensive second teams (2013, 2016).
Embiid, on the other hand, is averaging 1.7 blocks for his career and has been a three-time all-defensive second-team member (2018, 2019, 2021).
Also read: Carmelo Anthony’s son Kiyan Anthony makes bullish Sixers prediction, explains why Paul George tops his GOAT list
Paul George’s experience of getting to the conference finals can help the Sixers finally get past the semis
The Philadelphia 76ers have been a permanent part of the postseason since 2018. However, they are yet to make it past the conference semifinals. The team came close in 2019 but was eliminated by the eventual champions, Toronto Raptors, on a last-second game-seven buzzer-beater from Kawhi Leonard.
On the other hand, Paul George has already been to the conference finals three times in his career. The first two times were when he was a member of the Indiana Pacers. In back-to-back seasons (2013 & 2014), the Pacers went to the ECF where they ran into the LeBron James-led Miami Heat both times.
In 2021, George returned to the conference finals but this time, he was in the Western Conference as a member of the LA Clippers. They faced the Phoenix Suns and lost to them in six games.
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