Paul George invited 76ers rookie Jared McCain to his ‘Podcast P’ show. During the conversation, Paul George, as the veteran coming into the 76ers squad, broke down what duties McCain will have as the rookie on the team – carrying his Playstation around. The two then spoke about how the hazing of rookies can get carried away in the league.
“I’m simple. Carry my Playstation, man. We good. We get into town, just drop my Playstation off at the door, and go on about your business, man. Have fun, enjoy yourself, and do your thing man. And I’ll see you in the morning when you gotta come pick it back up and put it on the plane.”
“That’s the rookies that don’t listen. I don’t personally do it. I’ve been on teams where a rookie got some bad treatment because they didn’t listen. I tell the young guys this all the time; you’re only a rookie once out of your career, embrace it man.”
“When you fight it, that’s when the trouble comes… Next year, when you’re not a rookie, you’ll have fun with it. Like ‘Hey rook, man, go pick up the towel’.”
Rookie duties can be rough… unless you're PG's rook 😂🎮 pic.twitter.com/HL92z3F8iE
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 28, 2024
George was clearly having some fun with the young star. But rookie duties are taken seriously by teams and players in the NBA. Many veteran players in the NBA see rookies coming in and feel that they need to pay their dues to the players who have established themselves in the league.
But hazing can get taken to pranking as well. A few years ago, Benedict Mathurin as a rookie had his car wrapped in plastic by the rest of his teammates. Clearly, these things are not intended to cause harm. But sometimes, if rookies are hostile, it could lead to some negative interactions between players.
How Will Paul George Lead The 76ers?
As one of the veteran stars in the NBA, Paul George will be expected to be a leader for the 76ers. While the franchise is still centered around Joel Embiid, there is no denying that a star with George’s skill and experience will be one of the prominent figures and voices within the locker room.
George played a similar role on the Clippers, where he was one of the key figures on the team alongside Kawhi Leonard. While things didn’t work out for the Clippers, it was more so due to the injury problems the team faced rather than any poor performances or leadership quirks from George.
Paul George is coming off a solid season with the Clippers where he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. If he can average a similar stat line with the 76ers, and Embiid continues to perform at an MVP level, the 76ers have a legitimate chance at making a championship run.
The 76ers would at least like to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in the Embiid era. And with George on the team, they have a genuine chance but must compete with other great teams like the Knicks and the reigning champion Celtics. So it will be a tough road for them.
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