Despite a serious bidding war for Paul George taking place this offseason, it seems the Philadelphia 76ers were always the answer.
Sixers superstar Joel Embiid made subtle hints at a team-up with George during the NBA Finals, but apparently their connection has spanned much further. The star tandem appeared in numerous All-Star games together as members of opposing teams, which George says sparked a friendship.
The veteran star shared he felt his team-up with Embiid was inevitable, pointing to the All-Star game as a main reason.
"Definitely look forward to coming to Philly. We felt that this was the best and next step in this phase of my career. I thought everything just aligned perfectly. I've always been a fan of Tyrese and Joel from afar," George shared at his introductory press conference. "Joel has secretly been one of my closest All-Star game friends, so it kind of felt inevitable that at some point we would link up and be teammates."
Philadelphia's Big Three of Embiid, George, and Maxey will rival the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks for a trip to the NBA Finals. Thanks to Mikal Bridges landing with the Knicks and George signing with the 76ers, the Eastern Conference is at its most competitive point in years.