Paul George explains why he gave one 'a--hole' 76ers fan the middle finger during impressive return to Philly
Paul George’s return to Philadelphia was productive on the scoreboard, even if one courtside moment drew plenty of attention away from his performance.
George finished with a game-high 36 points in the Celtics’ big win on Tuesday, turning in an impressive outing in a building where the crowd had no reason to make things easy. But one 76ers fan in particular got under George’s skin, and the forward later explained why he responded by flashing the middle finger.
The gesture became the night’s flashpoint, but the basketball itself was the bigger story. Scoring 36 points in a road win is the kind of performance that can settle a game quickly and put pressure on the home side to keep up. In a league where every possession matters, a player getting hot can change the tone of a matchup fast.
Moments like this are part of the NBA’s emotional fabric. Visiting players often hear from opposing fans from the opening tip to the final buzzer, and return games can bring an extra layer of tension when familiarity cuts both ways. When that energy spills over, it can make an already loud arena feel even more intense.
For George and the Celtics, the result matters far more than the exchange, but the incident adds another talking point to a game that was already significant. Fans will now be left to wonder whether the interaction was an isolated flash of frustration or the latest example of how quickly a hostile crowd can get a reaction from a star player.
