During Monday’s episode of Podcast P, Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George recounted a humorous interaction involving Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris. George revealed that a fan, spotting him at the Philadelphia Eagles’ championship parade, jokingly expressed they would have preferred to keep Harris instead. Despite the jab, George made sure to praise Harris, clarifying he did not intend it as an insult. Harris responded by posting a photo of himself smoking a cigar, provoking immediate reactions from NBA fans.
Social media erupts with criticism directed at Tobias Harris
After Harris shared his cigar photo in response to George’s story, fans flooded the comments with sharp remarks. Many took the moment to criticize Harris’s recent performances, especially recalling his scoreless display in a 2024 playoff elimination game against the New York Knicks. The Sixers’ loss in that series intensified frustrations aimed at Harris. Users on social media reminded him of that underwhelming outing, drawing contrasts between his efforts and the team’s overall failures.
The fallout from Sixers’ offseason moves involving Harris and George
Philadelphia parted ways with Tobias Harris in the summer of 2024 to clear salary cap space for Paul George’s arrival. Fans’ mixed reactions when seeing George at the championship parade likely stemmed from disappointment over George’s struggles throughout the 2024-25 season. His scoring was underwhelming, and he saw limited action, appearing in only 41 games that year. Moreover, George and Joel Embiid had little opportunity to build on-court chemistry, playing together in only 19 games due to injuries and other issues.
“You play damn near as many games as you didn’t play” —Gillie, Commentator
Comparing the tenures of Tobias Harris and Paul George with the Sixers
The 2024-25 season was a major disappointment for the Philadelphia 76ers as they failed to qualify for the playoffs, partly due to injuries to key players Joel Embiid and Paul George. There is mounting speculation that the Sixers may not wait to see if things improve with George’s health. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the team’s front office is reportedly considering trading Paul George along with the number three draft pick in exchange for star players like Lauri Markkanen or Kevin Durant.
If George is traded, his time with Philadelphia would end after just one season, contrasting with Tobias Harris’s five-and-a-half-year tenure with the team. While Harris never led the Sixers alone, he consistently contributed as a complementary player alongside Embiid, and his presence coincided with multiple postseason appearances, unlike the recent struggles following the roster changes.
Implications for the Sixers’ future and ongoing NBA rivalries
The ongoing tension involving Tobias Harris, Paul George, and Joel Embiid highlights deeper challenges facing the Sixers as they navigate roster construction and injury setbacks. Fan reactions and social media exchanges reflect broader frustrations with the team’s 2024-25 campaign, which fell short of expectations. Moving forward, potential trades and strategic decisions during the offseason will shape the team’s ability to return to playoff contention and rebuild chemistry among their star players.