Paul George Speaks On Game 7, Haliburton’s Tragic Injury, SGA’s Jordan Year, Kevin Durant To Houston + More On ‘Podcast P’

Paul George speaks on Game 7, Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, Kevin Durant to Houston, and why Ace Bailey is not working out for the 76ers on “Podcast P with Paul George”.

We share this week’s episode of “Podcast P with Paul George”, PG and the guys talk game 7 of the NBA Finals, including Tyrese Haliburton’s heartbreaking injury, and SGA’s historic season.

They also discuss the shocking trade that sent Kevin Durant’s to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and picks.

Later in the episode, PG and the guys turn their attention to the NBA Draft where PG shares his thoughts on Ace Bailey’s decision to refuse to workout for the Sixers, and why VJ Edgecomb could be a nice pickup for the team, comparing the young Baylor star to Jimmy Butler.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• (3:10) PG On Whether Tyrese Haliburton Should Have Played Game 3

PG: “I did remember watching the game 2 where he went down, had the injury, and I was thinking like, damn, Indy [Pacers] should probably sit him game three, right? They did their job, they split back in Oklahoma, did their job game three. It looked like he was questionable at that point. Wasn’t going to play, was he not going to play? How bad is the injury? He came out and he just didn’t look himself and I get it, playoffs, you want to play every game. Hindsight, you want to play that, but you were to be able to foresee an injury like this coming, maybe we should sit him game three, try to at least give him a little rest and then try to get game four, win that. Because he wasn’t himself game three and you saw it…I mean it’s going to shape the future of Indiana, you know what I mean? The same way the injury with Jayson Tatum’s going to shape the future of Boston. You know what I mean? That window that they had of keeping those guys together, it might look different. You got to wait out another year. You know what I mean? So things change, the league changes, guys move around. Who’s to say the window and we’re talking about a 20-year-old. He’ll heal. He’s young. He’ll heal. But that injury is a tough one, hard one to come back from.”

• (15:50) On SGA’s Growth & OKC’s Dynasty Potential

PG: “I love, I think Shai is kind of separating himself, you know what I mean? He’s putting himself in a category of his own, we’re here the debate of who’s the face of the NBA and who’s the young face of the NBA. And I think Shai is taking that to heart. He’s tough, man. I think for the future for sure, he’s going to be in that conversation of when you look at the KDs, the Steph, the Brons, they held 2000s, 2010-2020, they held those eras down. I think Shai’s going to hold this next era down for sure.”

PG: “You saw what they could be and then it is just going to come down to how much does winning together mean They can probably win and be successful off on their own. But how important is it to win together…They’re going to get better. They’re going to get bigger. They’re going to get smarter. This is the youngest team that has won championships…… This is the most unique set up you’ll see right here.”

• (30:30) PG On Kevin Durant and Jalen Green Trade

PG: “Obviously Houston believes that he has a lot still in the tank, which KD has shown. He still had another efficient, highly productive year…he’s still showing that he’s producing at a high level so in Houston’s eyes, it’s let’s win now…I think now you bring in, if we can make a run, we got someone that can close games for us and you bring KD. I’m not mad at it… I think people are because of KD’s age, they think what direction is Houston trying to go at the end of the day? But they see a window and I think they’re trying to have a young star in [Amen] Thompson who I think is a stud and that’s who they believe in for sure. Let’s put something around him to try to win.”

PG: “It’s a chance for a fresh new identity for himself [Jalen Green]. So I think you always got to look at it as you could be traded any day, any player. You saw that with Luka [Doncic], you can get traded at any point in the year. So you can’t take it personal. It’s business at the end of the day. But again, you find a new home and you kind of just throw yourself into the mix. He’s young, but I think this summer has got to be a huge summer for him. This summer’s got to be one of the hardest working summers he’s ever committed to.”

• (44:33) PG Reacts to Ace Bailey Refusing to Workout with the Philadelphia 76ers Prior to the NBA Draft

DALLAS: “It looks like the 76ers have their eyes on Ace Bailey and recently I don’t know if it was him or his agent but his agent came out and said he wants to go to a team where he’s going to be the number one option almost throwing little demands out before he’s even stepped on the NBA floor. What are your thoughts of seeing a young guy like that and from being in the sixers organization does that cause any hesitation?”

PG: “I think if I’m Ace Bailey I can’t get mad if my stock drops. He’s cancelled all workouts and hasn’t worked out for any team. So I think they made a big deal because we were scheduled to work him out and he cancelled the day of but he hasn’t worked out for any team. But you’re not in a positions to be making those demands. Make it to the league first. It’s for sure the people around in. I don’t know who’s representing him but I don’t think they’re going about it the right way.”

• (46:06) PG on the Potential of Adding VJ Edgecomb to the Sixers and Why He Sees Jimmy Butler as a Comp

PG: “I like VJ. I thought he showed tremendous upside when he played with the Bahamas. It’s almost funny because watching it he stood out but I didn’t know the name or that was the player who went to Baylor. Watching him and seeing him compete against top talent, dunking on them, blowing by them making impact. He’s an impactful player…I like him. I like his upside. To me I think he’s kind of like Jimmy Butler. Just a dog who plays hard on both ends and just has that toughness about him. He’s for sure going top 10, probably going at 3 or 4.”