The future is now in the NBA and we’ve seen the power dynamic shift multiple times over the past few years alone. Now, on the cusp of his 15th NBA season, 76ers star Paul George stands alone as the last player in his class.
After former NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward officially announced his retirement on Thursday, it made George, 34, the only player left in the NBA who was picked in 2010.
On X, fans from all corners of the globe chimed in to express their reactions and reminisce on a dying class of legends.
Paul George is the ONLY player left from the 2010 NBA Draft Class 🤯
(h/t @YoungNBA) pic.twitter.com/3gzZXwaX9d
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) August 1, 2024
The 2010 class includes iconic players such as John Wall, Evan Turner, DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward, Eric Bledsoe, Avery Bradley, and Paul George. Many players in the top 15 went on to sustain a successful, multi-year career but George will forever be known as the best and he’s still on the board today… all the while his peers have slowly faded one by one.
paul george looking at the 2010 draft class like https://t.co/U3DfkRafOz pic.twitter.com/QvWZJEdfIS
— drg. 🗽 (@drgfromnyc) August 1, 2024
Love him or hate him, you have to give George credit for his sustained longevity and his ability to contribute to winning basketball after all these years. Fans commended the 9x All-Star for his perseverance and longevity to continue as one of the NBA’s elites through 14 seasons.
https://twitter.com/loverofdagame/status/1819011569805639749
While George has experienced some brutal injuries in the past, he’s made All-Star appearances in seven of his last nine seasons. According to some fans, his sustained greatness can be attributed to rigorous physical training and positive mental thinking.
Having a good attitude and taking care of your body will help you with longevity🤷🏾♂️
— IG: mr.rockyl (@iamrockyl) August 1, 2024
Sadly fans also had to mention that, both Hayward and George suffered season-ending injuries just years apart. First, it was George in 2013 during the Team USA scrimmage, and then it was in 2017 when Hayward broke his leg on live TV in his first game as a Celtic. Hayward is freshly retired now and has been irrelevant on the court for years.
LAST MAN STANDING 😤
After Gordon Hayward's retirement announcement, Paul George is officially the only active player left in the NBA from the 2010 Draft class.
(h/t @YoungNBA) pic.twitter.com/NMz9Gkq833
— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) August 1, 2024
Former Wizards guard John Wall was once the face of his class and a candidate for being a premier point guard of the league after he was drafted first overall. The 5x All-Star put the Wizards franchise on his back and, along with Bradley Beal, finally brought some level of respect to an unaccomplished team.
DeMarcus Cousins, drafted 5th overall by the Kings, is arguably one of the best big men of the modern generation. The 4x All-Star averaged 27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans where his career would change forever.
Turner never did meet expectations as the former 2nd overall pick, but he managed to play on for years before emerging as a critical piece for the 76ers. He retired in 2020, leaving Gordon Hayward and Paul George as the only final active players from the 2010 Draft.
To this day, George remains one of the best two-way wings in basketball. The 9x All-Star just inked a $212 million deal with the 76ers this summer that will make him among the league’s highest-paid superstars into his late 30s.
At this stage of his career, simply being the last one left isn’t enough. To truly join the ranks of the legends, George will have to win a championship and that has to be what drove him to play with Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.
As the third man behind Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, George can play a more pressure-free role and as a more supportive character behind the main stars. Either way, Paul George will still have some kind of role and that’s more that can be said for anyone else who was drafted in 2010.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
