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PG-13 will have to find a new nickname as he joins the Philadelphia 76ers.
Paul George will no longer wear his signature No. 13 jersey, instead rocking No. 8 for the 76ers. The team revealed his new number on social media Saturday.
Philadelphia’s post appears to have revealed George’s new number earlier than he would have liked. In a recent clip from a new episode of Podcast P, which drops Monday, George revealed he would be announcing his new number in the coming days.
After his number was revealed by the team on Saturday, George told listeners to stay tuned for the next episode of his podcast to hear the backstory on why he chose No. 8:
It will be an adjustment to see George, who wore No. 24 early in his career before switching to No. 13, wearing a new number along with new threads next season, but the trio if him, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey should be exciting.
George, who spent the last five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, signed with the 76ers on a four-year, $212 million contract. The 34-year-old was searching for a four-year deal in free agency, and he found one in Philadelphia while also joining a team capable of competing for a championship.
“We are thrilled to welcome Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers. Paul is an elite wing on both ends of the floor who fits perfectly with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey,” 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in a statement on Saturday. “His dedication, hard work, and impressive career to date have him well on his way to the Hall of Fame. We are excited about the impact he will have as we strive to bring another championship to Philadelphia.”
George had a somewhat disappointing tenure in Los Angeles as the team reached the conference finals just once, but he’s looking to put the past behind him and find his first championship with Philadelphia.
“I’m so excited to join this storied franchise with such a passionate fan base! I can’t wait to be a part of such a talented team and get to work to bring a championship to Philadelphia!” George said in a statement.
Last season, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. What’s arguably the most impressive stat from last year is the 74 games George played after three consecutive years of struggling with injuries.
He now teams up with a former MVP in Embiid and a rising star in Maxey. Embiid put up 34.7 points and 11 rebounds per game last year while Maxey averaged a career-high 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Assuming the trio can stay healthy, Philadelphia will be a team to watch for to come out of the East.