Paul George drops 36, flips off fan in Philly return

Paul George scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, leading the Boston Celtics to a 123-101 win over the 76ers, ESPN reported.

George was traded from the 76ers to the Celtics in a blockbuster deal that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. The trade is looking like a win-win, with both players thriving in their new environments, but George got the better of the first meeting. He shot efficiently, created for teammates and controlled the game from the opening tip. The Boston Globe noted that Jayson Tatum had the final word in the brewing rivalry with Brown, while Yahoo Sports described the game as George stealing the show in the first Celtics-76ers matchup since the trade.

The win moves the Celtics ahead in what CBS Sports called a renewed rivalry between the two franchises. The 76ers traded George to get Brown, and the early returns favor Boston. George looked comfortable in the Celtics system, and the team looked like the better squad on both ends of the floor. NBC Sports Philadelphia described the game as George torching the 76ers, and the score reflected it.

The fan incident

After the game, George gave a 76ers fan the middle finger. He explained the gesture to CBS Sports, saying the fan was being an “a-hole” and had dropped a ball at his feet as if he were a dog. The moment went viral, with Bleacher Report and the Boston Herald both covering the exchange. George did not apologize. He said the fan crossed a line and that the response was measured given the provocation.

The New York Post reported that George called the fan an “a-hole” in his explanation, and NBC Sports Philadelphia quoted him saying the fan treated him “like a dog.” The Mirror US described the incident as George flipping the finger after the fan dropped a ball at his feet. The response from the basketball world was mixed. Some fans called it art, others called it unprofessional. AOL.com rounded up the reactions, which ranged from amusement to criticism.

This is the kind of incident that follows a player in Philadelphia. The city has a reputation for hostile fans, and George spent time there as a 76er. He knows what the environment is like, and he chose to respond. The Celtics did not discipline him, and the NBA had not announced a fine as of the postgame coverage. George was unbothered in his postgame comments, focusing on the win and the team performance rather than the fan exchange.

The trade

The Paul George-Jaylen Brown trade is the story behind the story. Sports Illustrated called it a rare win-win, and the early evidence supports that claim. Brown is playing well in Philadelphia, and George is playing well in Boston. Both teams got what they wanted: the 76ers got a primary scorer to pair with their core, and the Celtics got a veteran wing who can create his own shot and defend multiple positions.

The Inquirer reported that George wanted to “be the best version” of himself in the return, and he delivered. MassLive quoted him saying he has been “blown away” by the Celtics organization. The trade is working for both sides, but the first head-to-head meeting went to George and Boston. That will matter if the two teams meet in the playoffs, which is a realistic possibility given the Eastern Conference standings.

CBS Sports re-graded the trade after the game and concluded that the Celtics’ grade has improved while the 76ers’ mark stayed the same. The Sixer Sense called the trade a win-win, and SLAM Online described George as stealing the show. The narrative around the trade will shift depending on how the next meeting goes, but for now, Boston has the upper hand and the bragging rights.

What I think

The trade is working. Both teams got better, and both players are thriving in their new systems. That is the rare outcome in a blockbuster trade, and it is worth acknowledging. Most trades of this magnitude have a clear winner and loser, and the George-Brown deal does not. Brown is scoring in Philadelphia, and George is scoring in Boston, and both teams are winning. The Celtics got the better of the first meeting, but one game does not settle the question.

The fan incident is a sideshow. George was provoked, and he responded. The fan dropped a ball at his feet and treated him like a dog, and George gave him the finger. That is not a scandal. It is a man reacting to disrespect. The NBA may fine him, and that is the league’s prerogative, but the coverage should not treat this as a major story. The major story is that George went back to Philadelphia, scored 36 points and won by 22. The finger is a footnote.

The rivalry is real. The Celtics and 76ers have history, and the George-Brown trade adds a new chapter to a relationship that goes back decades. These are two good teams with two players who were traded for each other, and they will meet again. The next game will be in Boston, where the crowd will be behind George and the Celtics will have home court. The 76ers will have a chance to respond, and Brown will have a chance to make his case. That is the story to watch, not the fan incident and not the postgame quotes. The trade is the story, and the trade is working.