Paul George Issues 1st Statement Since Jaylen Brown Trade with Celtics, Thanks 76ers in IG Photo

In the aftermath of the stunning blockbuster trade that sent him to the Boston Celtics, Paul George had nice things to say about the Philadelphia 76ers from his two seasons with the club.

George posted a farewell message on Instagram, praising Sixers fans and the organization for welcoming him and his family "with open arms."

The Sixers traded George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jaylen Brown. It was a deal that seemed to come out of nowhere, despite it being understood that Brown was being shopped around the NBA.

Given the rivalry between Philadelphia and Boston, those two teams aren't usually doing big business with each other. It's just the fourth trade between them since 2000.

George, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers as a free agent in July 2024, leaves having played just 78 games over the past two seasons.

The 36-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 78 starts with Philadelphia.