Last week, NBA fans circulated a statistic that vividly highlighted the Paul George experience with the Philadelphia 76ers. Since signing a four-year, maximum free agent contract with the Sixers on July 7 of last year, George has more videos on his Podcast P YouTube channel than total field goals made. This may sound astonishing, yet it reflects the reality of an aging player riding the athlete podcast wave.
During a discussion about George’s career-worst season and his ongoing digital media pursuit on The Bill Simmons Podcast over the weekend, Ryen Russillo expressed skepticism over whether George should consider putting the mic away for a couple of months while Philadelphia’s season nears its inevitable conclusion. “He is incredibly disappointing,” Russillo remarked. “He’s so bad right now that I can’t even believe he’s doing podcasts.”
George is experiencing his worst season in a decade, shooting only 43 percent from the field and averaging just 16.1 points per game. Once hailed as offseason winners, the Sixers find themselves in a dismal 20-36 position, with rumors suggesting they may soon shut down franchise center Joel Embiid. With these developments surrounding George, Russillo believes it might be prudent to pause the podcast instead of disregarding the glaring issues.
“I would just be so embarrassed. Obviously that’s not going to happen, but I would be embarrassed being a dude who comes in with a four-year max (contract) and [it’s] like, ‘we need you to be the guy with all this Embiid stuff,’” Russillo commented. “Even if he’s older and all this different stuff, Year 1, this is what it looks like?”
At its best, Podcast P stands out as one of the more transparent athlete-hosted shows. During his time with the Clippers, George provided fans with a unique perspective on navigating Kawhi Leonard’s recurring knee injuries. Following a confrontation with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s postseason coverage regarding Leonard’s health, George leveraged Podcast P to defend his teammates and share what it was like being on set during that moment. Earlier this season, he included Sixers teammate Reggie Jackson on the podcast to discuss leaked reports of a team meeting among Philadelphia players and accusations toward Embiid.
Active athletes must carefully navigate what they choose to share. However, in the latest episode of Podcast P, George commented on Luka Doncic’s fit in L.A., 2025 NBA Draft prospects, and Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show. Taking a break might worsen George’s image more than his current season has, but fans are likely growing weary of the distractions. If George struggles to provide insights into his life and career, one must question the purpose of continuing the podcast.
