Part of why many are down on the Boston Celtics after they traded Jaylen Brown for Paul George is because of George's age, his injury history, and because he didn't put the same numbers with the Philadelphia 76ers he once did in the past. What many don't know is that despite all of that, George is returning to a role he seamessly transitioned to years ago.
When George was first traded to Oklahoma City back in 2017 - many forget Boston had their eye on him at the time - he was tasked with being Russell Westbrook's second-in-command, a role George still excelled at. After being Indiana's alpha for years, George was asked to do less, and he more or less took it and ran with it.
It got even better the second season, as George put up his career-best numbers, earning him his lone All-NBA first team spot and a legitimate MVP campaign (finished in top five for voting), all while being the second-in-command.
Many forget that OKC team fell apart because of injuries. Andre Roberson was one of the NBA's best defender, but his knee giving out basically pulled the rug from underneath them (like Fred VanVleet's ACL tear just before Houston started their season), ending their hopes before they even got started.
He basically had the same role with the Clippers. He was KawhI Leonard's No. 2. While those teams didn't work out, it's not like George's numbers took that big of a hit. In fact, his last year there, which was only two years ago, he made the All-Star team because he could still play at an elite level.
Like the Thunder, those Clippers team arguably only failed because they initially lacked an identity and then Kawhi's health. Even if the trade turned into a historical disaster, George had his bumps and bruises, but he did what they wanted him to be: a Robin to Kawhi's Batman.
Fate stood in the way of those teams more than anything.
In familiar role with Celtics, George may return to form
In case anyone didn't know, George did not have the same role in Philadelphia that he did with his two prior teams. They asked him to be the third banana, which was a meh fit for him when it was all said and done.
It's perfectly reasonable to assert that George's numbers dipped because of his age and injury history. However, he was forced to play a role he didn't really accustom to all too well while playing with two excellent albeit ball-dominant players.
In Boston, that won't be the case. Yes, Jayson Tatum is the No. 1 guy, but he is an unselfish player who isn't as heliocentric as some of George's other co-stars in the past. George might not be at his peak anymore, but because he has thrived as the second guy, it shouldn't be ruled out that he may beat the same allegations Al Horford once did in Boston and look like the player he did pre-Philly.
If he does, it wouldn't necessarily be because of talent, but because George is in familiar territory again.
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