Paul George opens up on rewarding feelings after Sixers beat Knicks

NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia 76ers improved to a season-best five games over .500 with a 130-119 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night on the road. The win is Philadelphia's third consecutive and allowed them to go 3-2 on the road trip following the tough start.

The Sixers got another strong performance from their star trio of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. The three all had big games on either end of the floor as the two of them continue to build chemistry and grow as Philadelphia moves forward with its season.

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This is what the Sixers have been waiting for. This is what they envisioned when they brought George in on a 4-yer $212 million deal in the 2024 offseason. After a miserable 2024-25 season in which nothing went right, it's a rewarding feeling for George and the Sixers to be able to string wins together.

"It's super rewarding given the season that we had last year and everything we had to deal with the injuries," George said after the win over the Knicks. "The new players. Just gaining rhythm with one another."

The 2025-26 season has featured more injuries as George and Embiid both have been in and out of the lineup. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford haven't played since November, but the Sixers have found ways to win games. That's been the big difference compared to 2024-25.

"This year, we still have battled injuries," George acknowledged. "We still have some unfortunate luck on that side, but I think the biggest difference is we just feel better as a unit. We trust in the process of this team, and I think just a year under your belt, you just naturally gain camaraderie, and I think it's carrying over. I think it’s safe to say, everybody in this locker room. We're starting to enjoy the game. We're starting to enjoy it being out on that floor, playing on both ends, and I think we're just jelling. It's translating."

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When one saw George and Embiid in the 2024-25 season, it was obvious that both players were dealing with a lot of injuries that robbed them of their ability to do much of anything. That isn't the case now. While it isn't those two in their prime, they are showing that they still have plenty left in the tank.

"It’s great to see big fella go out and dunk, you know, finish the game off," George added. "For me, being able to dunk multiple. Last game, I've been dunking more in the warm-ups and practice, getting after it, dunking. It's just more, I guess, check points for me to check off my list that I am trending."

When George looks back at what has transpired over his first season in Philadelphia, it's good for him to be able to look back and be proud of how far he's come. He's seeing the strides he is making in his recovery process and loves what he sees.

"I know it's beating a deadbeat horse, but like for me, it's the gains," he finished. "Like, I'm just happy that I can check things off my list with how injury prone and how tough my body has been to now continue to trend on the healthier side. Those small things. It's like stuff that I can check off that, like, ‘Alright, I'm able to do this again. I'm able to dunk again. I'm able to explode again.’ So it's just a small gains to just continue to keep me going."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Paul George opens up on rewarding feelings after Sixers beat Knicks