A new hierarchy has been established within the Philadelphia 76ers organization. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a franchise-level talent, Joel Embiid has scored at virtual will in limited minutes, and VJ Edgecombe has looked the part of a rising star.
However, six-time All-NBA honoree Paul George has yet to play a game this season, which has left many wondering what the ideal role will be for him.
The question may have been answered inadvertently due to early events in the 2025-2026 season. It would be foolish to argue that Philadelphia is better off without George, but an identity has been established on offense that will require him to make adjustments.
Neither Edgecombe nor Maxey should be in a less prominent role than they currently are, and George is the player who will make that happen or fall to pieces.
Maxey has been in superstar form, having two games with at least 40 points and another two with at least 10 assists. Edgecombe, meanwhile, is an early frontrunner for Rookie of the Year with averages of 21.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals on .494/.438/.800 shooting.
If the 76ers want to build on a strong start to the season and really compete, George should feel comfortable potentially slotting in as a fourth option on offense.
The 76ers need Paul George to prioritize defense and pick his position on offense
George is one of the best two-way players of his generation, combining an offensive skillset as smooth as silk with elite defensive abilities. That bodes well for him in his current role as a player who can make his mark both on and off the ball.
Of course, George shouldn’t be pushed aside and written off as an offensive non-factor, but he should be closer to the 13.9 field goal attempts he averaged in 2024-2025 than the 16.7 he recorded in 2023-2024.
Part of the reasoning is that the combination of Embiid and Maxey provides the platform on which the 76ers can build a true contender. It is also imperative that Edgecombe continues to play heavily in attack as he comes into his own.
Quentin Grimes is flourishing as the sixth man in Philadelphia and needs ample opportunity to prove whether or not he should be given a lucrative new contract again in 2026.
The luxury the 76ers have with George is that he is a great shooter and a skilled scorer who doesn’t need a surplus of shots to get into a rhythm. He shot 38.0 percent on catch-and-shoot threes during an injury-plagued 2024-2025 campaign and an elite 45.4 percent in said scenarios in 2023-2024.
George has shot at least 38.0 percent on catch-and-shoot threes since NBA.com started tracking the data in 2013-14 — and has dipped below 40.0 percent only three times in 12 years.
However, George has almost always been an option in attack, which makes the current situation quite delicate. He shouldn’t stop himself from shooting when he’s on the play, but the 76ers’ priority should be to continue developing the perimeter duo of the future.
If George is willing to embrace defense as his first priority and play a more complementary role on offense, the 76ers can compete in 2025-2026.
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