Speaking before the media on Tuesday, the multi-time All-Star was reflective and honest about where he's at in his career.
I can't promise you exactly how Paul George will perform as a member of the Boston Celtics in 2026-27, but I can tell you that he made a good first impression during his introductory press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Getting introduced alongside Mike Conley Jr., George was honest, transparent, reflective and self-aware.
Here are the two big moments that stood out above the rest.
He recognizes the anger from the fanbase
George was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the trade that sent superstar Jaylen Brown to Philly. Brown spent 10 years with the Celtics, got to two NBA Finals, winning one, and just finished sixth in the NBA's MVP voting.
It's very hard to replace a player as talented as Brown, and it's also hard to replace a player that the fanbase has cultivated a relationship with for a decade. When you throw in the amount of community work that Brown was involved in, it's almost impossible.
George said he has no hard feelings toward the fans, even calling their reaction "fair." He did say, essentially, that he wants to try to win over the fanbase, and if he's going to do that, this press conference and these comments were a good way to start.
Boston Celtics forward Paul George (13) speaks during a press conference at The Auerbach Center at Boston Landing. Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesHe also is aware of who he is as a player now
When he was with the Indiana Pacers earlier in his career, George was the centerpiece. When he got traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was a co-headliner with Russell Westbrook. When he went to the Los Angeles Clippers, he was a co-headliner with Kawhi Leonard.
At this point? George is more of a supporting cast member, though still one that can be very good. He said as much on Tuesday, saying that he was "here to support JT (Jayson Tatum). "He made it clear that he's not looking to overtake Tatum's title as the leader of the team, and he's looking to co-exist with Tatum, who is now the unquestioned leader of the team.
One last thing
George, who is headed into his 17th NBA season, has never won an NBA title. Conley spoke about the duo's "sense of urgency," to get that done. So, when you factor in a sense of urgency and a willingness to play hard, with a refreshing assessment of your situation and how you fit into the roster?
That's a great first step to the Paul George era in Boston, now it all just has to materialize on the court.
The Celtics preseason schedule begins on Oct. 8. The regular season begins on Oct. 20.
