Boston Celtics forward Paul George directed a middle finger toward a fan during his return to Philadelphia on Tuesday night, a gesture he later explained as a reaction to the fan's behavior. George scored 36 points in the Celtics' 123-101 victory over the 76ers.
According to The Boston Herald's Zack Cox, George responded to a fan who was "being an a--hole." George elaborated on the incident, stating, "He looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it, instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do. So then I rolled him a middle finger in return."
George's performance included shooting 14-for-28 from the field and 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. He also contributed 14 consecutive points for the Celtics in the fourth quarter. Following the game, Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum commented on George's impact, saying, "He’s been incredible all season. The joy he’s playing with, what he’s brought to our team so far has been great. We’re lucky to have him and keep it going."
The game marked George's first appearance in Philadelphia since being traded to the Celtics in a blockbuster deal over the summer. He was part of the trade package that sent former Celtics star Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. Brown, meanwhile, scored 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting in the matchup.