The Philadelphia 76ers are navigating a tough stretch without their star center Joel Embiid and backup Andre Drummond, who have missed three consecutive games. To fill the void, coach Nick Nurse has opted for Guerschon Yabuesele as the starting center and relied on rookie Adem Bona for the second unit. In a recent 123-115 defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans, Paul George found himself in an unusual position, guarding a center in a lineup lacking a traditional big. This switch-up has sparked interesting reactions from George, who admits he finds playing the 5 position less engaging.

Despite being a versatile defender throughout his career, George expressed his boredom with the role of guarding bigger players, stating he misses the dynamic play of chasing smaller opponents. Having made four All-Defensive teams, he acknowledges the strategic reasoning behind his assignment. At 34 years old, George's defensive role is evolving, and it’s likely this trend will continue even when Embiid returns, allowing the 76ers to optimize their defensive matchups.