Paul George says goodbye to the Sixers: “Wearing this jersey was an honor”
Paul George bid farewell to Philadelphia with a heartfelt message after the trade that sent him to the Boston Celtics
Paul George‘s time with the Philadelphia 76ers officially came to an end following the blockbuster trade that brought Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia.
Late Wednesday night, George was included in the package that sent Brown to the Sixers. Just hours later, the former Clippers star shared a farewell message on social media, expressing both gratitude and disappointment as he closed the chapter on his time in Philadelphia.
Paul George’s farewell message
In the first part of his statement, Paul George thanked the organization, the fans and the city for welcoming both him and his family.
Philly welcomed me and my family from day one. Wearing this jersey was an honor I’ll never forget. It didn’t end the way we hoped, but this city, this team and these fans meant everything to me. Thank you to my teammates, the coaching staff and the front office. The relationships I built here will stay with me forever
Paul George
In the second part of the message, the former Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers forward also shared his disappointment over how his time with the franchise came to an end.
I gave everything I had every time I stepped on the floor, proud to represent one of the greatest sports cities in the world
Paul George
Reaction to the trade
The trade sparked completely different reactions in the two cities.
In Boston, criticism quickly fell on the front office, both for the way it handled its relationship with Jaylen Brown and for the value of the return it received. Brown himself admitted he was surprised by the way the decision was communicated to him.
In Philadelphia, however, excitement is through the roof. Along with Jaylen Brown, the Sixers also added Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade, joining a core that already includes Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and rookie VJ Edgecombe.
Should the rumors linking LeBron James to the Sixers eventually become reality, Philadelphia fans would have every reason to dream of bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back home for the first time in 43 years.