Draymond gives PG13 a stern warning about rowdy 76ers fans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
veteran Warriors forward Draymond Green gave a new Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George a stern warning about his new admirer ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.
The Philadelphia faithful are some of the most supportive fans across professional sports, but they are also some of the most critical, which may not be well received by George, who some believe is not well criticized.
Green told NFL insider Jordan Schultz about George’s looming rude awakening on Friday.
“Good luck, Paul George,” Draymond Green said (h/t Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints). “Oh, he better play, or they’re going to crush Paul George if he doesn’t play well, oh my god.
“You know why they’re going to crush Paul George if he doesn’t play well there? Because they already got a bad taste in their mouth from their last three (small forwards) they had with Tobias Harris. They never felt he brought it, so that’s why.”
“Good luck, Paul George. Oh, he better play or they’re going to crush Paul George if he doesn’t play well, oh my god.”
Draymond Green says Philly fans are ruthless and will crush Paul George is not playing well with the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/NdLdyYas5x
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 13, 2024
George, who was heavy bound for Golden State this offseasonis a nine-time NBA All-Star and likely future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
But the two-way shooter often struggled under heavy scrutiny. Perhaps the best example of George’s problems came during the 2020 NBA season shortened by COVID-19 in the “bubble” in Orlando.
George was by no means his electric self at the time. He has no choice but to be in Philadelphia.
76ers fans are hungry for a title. They won’t be too patient — or nice — with George, and have literally run former Philadelphia stars Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons out of town in recent years after too many misses, as Green noted.
“You know what the problem is with Philly?” Green added. “Philly fans are harder on their own team than the opposing team. How Philly killed their own players.
“The guys coming in, and they’re so focused on crushing their guys that they really don’t kill you when you go to Philly like that. How they crush their own children. This is the point. It’s hard to continue there.”
Joel Embiid is in a league of his own; he embraced the tough 76ers fan base and they love him for it. Everyone else, though…
“Paul George play well,” Green concluded. “And they better win.”
Philadelphia has not won an NBA championship since the 1982-83 NBA season. The city expects George to help bring one.
It’s not known if George knew — or cared — about the fact when he signed his four-year, $212 million max contract with the 76ers this summer.
After losing to George this offseason, however, Green and the Warriors are doing well watching the popular forward and Philadelphia get to know each other.
