Paul George Shines in Preseason Premiere with Philadelphia 76ers

On the evening of October 11, 2024, Philadelphia 76ers’ new addition, Paul George, made a spectacular debut in a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite the team’s 121-111 defeat, George’s performance was a standout, scoring an impressive 23 points, making him the highest point scorer for his side.

George’s Dominant Display on the Court

With an 8 out of 15 shot success rate, George played for 26 minutes demonstrating his exceptional scoring ability in his debut appearance. He made a significant contribution with four 3-pointers, six rebounds, and a pair of assists.

In this preseason, the NBA has witnessed several big-name players transitioning to new teams such as Karl-Anthony Towns in New York, Chris Paul in San Antonio, DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento, and Klay Thompson in Dallas. George’s move to the 76ers, following a seven-year stint with Indiana, two years with Oklahoma City, and five years with the LA Clippers, is part of this trend.

George, who has been an All-Star nine times and an All-NBA selection six times, has maintained an average of 20.8 points over his first 14 NBA seasons. The Philadelphia 76ers have invested heavily in George, signing him to a four-year contract worth $212 million, marking his fourth team in his NBA journey.

A Homecoming for Coach Nick Nurse

The game in Iowa also marked a sentimental return for 76ers’ coach Nick Nurse, a native of the state. Nurse has a history with Minnesota’s G League team, having coached them when they were based in Iowa. He also served as the head coach at NAIA member Grand View University in Des Moines, becoming the youngest college coach in the country at the age of 23.

Speaking to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Nurse expressed his excitement about bringing an NBA team back to his old haunt, “It’s not often you get the chance to bring an NBA team back to a place that holds so many memories for you,” said Nurse. “The alignment between the Timberwolves and the Iowa Wolves, and the need for a game from [Minnesota coach Chris Finch], presented a perfect opportunity. We were also looking for a couple of games, so it worked out well. I’m thrilled to be here.”