With the Celtics clinging to a five-point lead with 1:23 remaining, staring down a disastrous collapse after blowing a 22-point lead at home to the one-win Milwaukee Bucks, with Jayson Tatum (rest) unavailable, Paul George took matters into his own hands.
Catching a pass from Neemias Queta on the wing, George took two dribbles, crossed over to his left against Jaime Jaquez Jr., stopped on a dime, and buried a gutsy step-back three with eight seconds remaining on the shot clock.
Another PG dagger 🗡️ https://t.co/cTD9XSwaZz
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 5, 2026
It was the vintage Paul George he believed he could bring back this season, dating back to when he first arrived in Boston.
"To hear that 'he's not capable of this' or 'he's washed,' it's funny, but it's frustrating, because I'm still capable of doing those things when healthy, and I feel like my body is back healthy," George said on media day in late September. "I feel I'm capable of doing those things again. It's more so, from a personal standpoint, it's not about going out and trying to drop 30 every night. I think it's more so about being available, being efficient, being consistent, and I think, again, for myself, just proving that, when healthy, I'm able to do what I've done in my career. I don't judge it off of what I've done while being injured. It's two different tales."
So far, George has lived up to that.
After a game-high 25-point performance (8-of-18 FG, 5-of-9 3PT), along with three rebounds, five assists, and four steals, George is averaging 21.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.6 steals through seven games this season. He's second on the team in total points (149), and third in both rebounds (39) and assists (35).
There's still room for improvement as George continues to learn the system and get comfortable with his new teammates. That adjustment period could help explain his team-high 23 turnovers, especially considering he posted a 10.2% turnover rate last season, 2.5 percentage points below the league average.
“I’m still learning, still figuring it out,” George said.
Even as he continues to acclimate, George has been everything the Celtics could have asked for so far.
Defensively, he's set the tone with his playmaking, leading the charge for a defense that has forced five more turnovers per game than last season, increasing from 12.4 to 17.4. The Celtics are also averaging more deflections (19.1 per game, up from 15.2) and steals (8.6, up from 7.1). George leads the team in both steals (18) and deflections (37).
Offensively, George has been a reliable shot-creator for the Celtics. He leads the team with 24 made three-pointers, while shooting 41.4% from deep. He’s second on the team with 28 two-point makes, trailing only Tatum (48).
George has also developed strong chemistry with Tatum, with the two already finding ways to elevate each other's games. George is making 10.5 passes per game to Tatum, totaling six assists. On the other end, Tatum is making 9.5 passes per game to George, totaling 11 assists. Tatum's 11 assists to George are his most to any teammate.
"Extremely, and beyond basketball. Defensively, he's been elite since he stepped on the court. Offensively, it's been a fun journey with him just growing through it. Learning the system and how to play, and just being unpredictable," head coach Joe Mazzulla said of George's importance to the identity of the team. "We need the best version of him for us to be a great team."
George's durability, or lack thereof, has often overshadowed what he's capable of when healthy. But when George is healthy, he plays at an All-Star level. In nine of the 11 seasons in which he played at least 50 games, George earned an All-Star selection, including as recent as back-to-back selections in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Of course, there's still a long way to go. But for now, the Paul George experience has been near-perfect, as he's been an ideal fit in the Celtics’ system and locker room.
“He cares about the person next to you. He's someone you can hang out with, have a good time with him,” Derrick White said. “Obviously, on the court, he does a lot offensively and defensively for us.”
