A former star of the Indiana Pacers has been named the worst contract in the NBA entering the new season.
The Indiana Pacers have seen all sorts of talented players come through the organization over the years.
Some have made their mark on the franchise, while others were just passing by. But one recent player who did make an impact on this organization is forward Paul George.
George was with the Pacers for seven seasons after the team drafted him with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The forward quickly became the franchise player for the Pacers, helping lead them to a lot of playoff success.
While the Pacers weren't able to get to the NBA Finals with George, they did reach the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row. Indiana, with George, was one of the few teams in the league who was able to compete against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.
George eventually was traded from the Pacers, but his impact on the organization still remains. However, the former Pacers star was given a reality check heading into the 2026=27 NBA season.
Now, with the Boston Celtics, George was named the worst contract in the NBA. NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report listed George at the top of the list entering the new season.
The former Pacers star will be paid $54.1 million this season by Boston, with him entering the third year of a massive four-year deal he signed. George then has a player option for $56.5 million next season.
The veteran was traded to the Celtics this offseason from the Philadelphia 76ers in the deal that sent star Jaylen Brown out of Boston. Now with the Celtics, George will try to prove that his contract is justified, but that could be easier said than done.
The forward is 36 years old at this point, and he is nowhere near the same level of player that he once was. So the combination of his advanced age, mixed with the heavy salary has put him onto the list in the top spot.
Last season, George only played in 37 games for the 76ers, averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per contest. While these numbers aren't the worst, they don't reflect him having the 11th highest salary in the NBA.
The former Pacers star has put together a nice career, along with a strong financial portfolio as well. But overall, his current contract is a problem, and the Celtics will hope he can outperform his numbers from a year ago.
