Paul George embracing Celtics fresh start: ‘There’s a love again for this game’

Paul George admits the pressure and criticism he has faced, particularly from former players, has bothered him at times over the years, but the nine-time All-Star says he is embracing the opportunity to suit up for the Boston Celtics, according to Gary Washburn.

“This locker room, the culture here, the front office, the city, the organization, the tradition, all of that is something that I’ve never been a part of,” George told Washburn. “Where everything is high quality. For me, it’s refreshing. Hopefully, I can remain healthy. I think I became a journeyman along the way [of my career]. At this point, I would love to be able to call Boston home.”

“I’m fully immersing myself into this organization with the guys,” George continued. “I’ve been more than happy. I’m ecstatic with being here, being around these guys, like they brought something else out of me that to be quite frank has been buried, and that’s just a different passion. There’s a love again for this game, and I just think everything is kind of just aligning at the right time for me here.”

George has been limited to 78 regular-season appearances over the past two years by injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s drug policy. He said the banned substance he took was for a “mental health issue.”

Now in his 17th NBA season, George was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to Boston over the summer as part of the Jaylen Brown blockbuster. The Celtics open their regular season Tuesday on the road against the Detroit Pistons.