Paul George is a six-time All-NBA honoree and nine-time All-Star who has been the go-to scorer on three different Conference Finalists. In a perfect world, that would be who the Boston Celtics are getting as a co-star for Jayson Tatum, who has played just 22 games over the past 18 months.
George is now 36 years of age, however, and is thus unlikely to turn the clocks too far back in 2026-27. Thankfully, Boston doesn't need him to. They simply need him to be who he is: A 3-and-D wing who can create offense for himself and others.
Over the past two seasons, George has accumulated averages of 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per game on .434/.375/.817 shooting. Those numbers may not jump off of the page, but they epitomize his impact.
George isn't necessarily elite in any one area at this stage of his career, but he offers value in virtually every phase of the game.
That's exactly what Boston needs from the player who will ideally function as a supporting piece of the puzzle that, if completed, will help Tatum return to superstar status. In that scenario, George being able to check boxes based on what's needed on any given night would be the ultimate value.
The Celtics certainly need a volume scoring second option to take pressure off of Tatum, but if George can't turn the clocks back to become that player again, then what he currently is would still be more than adequate.
Paul George offers a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor
George's fit with the Celtics starts with the fact that he's an excellent shooter joining a team that launches threes with almost unrivaled tenacity. Boston ranked No. 4 in three-point field goal attempts in 2025-26 and finished No. 1 in the NBA in 2024-25 and 2023-24. It was No. 2 in 2022-23.
Considering George has shot 39.0 percent on 7.7 three-point field goal attempts per game over the past 11 seasons, it's safe to believe he'll be an ideal fit within that structure.
From there, George's offensive impact will center around his versatility with the ball in his hands. He doesn't go to the basket as often as he once did, but he still attacked to the tune of 5.7 drives per game in 2025-26. Among returning Celtics players, only Tatum, Pritchard, and White averaged more.
George is also a willing and able passer, as well as a proficient midrange jump shooter who buried 45.5 percent of his attempts in 2025-26. That could help create valuable balance on offense.
Defensively, it's fair to question if George is still the All-Defense level contributor that he used to be. His effort has rarely been questioned, however, and he proved how much he still has left in the tank by ranking in the 74th percentile in both perimeter isolation defense and off-ball chaser defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index.
If George can even just stay the course and continue playing at that level in 2025-26, the Celtics will have a balanced rotation that he plays a pivotal role in sustaining. Anything more than that would be the proverbial icing on the cake.
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