Paul George, now with the Philadelphia 76ers, openly criticized the Charlotte Hornets’ franchise culture, explaining why he would avoid joining them despite the city‘s attractions. Speaking in his podcast alongside former <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA star Baron Davis, George highlighted that the team‘s lack of consistent success influences his decision more than market size.
After leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul George opted to sign with the 76ers, aiming to compete for an NBA championship alongside stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. During a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, he welcomed Baron Davis, who spent his early career with the Charlotte Hornets, even earning an All-Star selection in his third year. Davis helped lead the Hornets to the playoffs each of his three seasons, with support from Jamal Mashburn. Yet, the franchise has struggled to maintain that level of achievement since then, not reaching the postseason since 2016 despite talent like guard LaMelo Ball.
Reflecting on Charlotte’s current state, George was candid about his reluctance to sign with them. He emphasized that his decision stems from the absence of a winning culture rather than the small market setting. He praised Charlotte as a city where he could envision living but made clear that basketball reasons keep him away.
Listen, if I’m in free agency, I’m not picking Charlotte, just because there’s no winning culture there alone,
Paul George said.
Regardless, Charlotte is an amazing city, would love to play for it because of the city, like I could see myself living there, but in terms of a basketball standpoint? I’m not going, my career’s over with if I go there.
Since joining the NBA as an expansion team in 1988, the Hornets have never advanced to the conference finals. Their deepest playoff progress includes four appearances in the second round, with only ten postseason berths overall. These historical struggles contrast sharply with George’s ambitions in Philadelphia, where he believes the team has a legitimate chance to pursue the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship trophy.
Recent Updates on Paul George’s Status with the 76ers
The 76ers have expressed confidence in Paul George’s role moving forward, reinforcing their commitment to building a championship contender around him and Joel Embiid. George remains focused on achieving postseason success with Philadelphia, steering clear of franchises without established winning traditions like Charlotte. His comments underline the importance of team culture in the decision-making process of veteran players seeking meaningful playoff runs.