Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has his heart, mind on communities impacted by wildfires

ORLANDO – About 45 minutes after his game, a solemn Paul George refreshed an internet page on his cell phone on Sunday night to get an update on how the tragic Pacific Palisades fire had progressed in Los Angeles. At that moment the Philadelphia 76ers star’s home was “still standing” despite being about two blocks away from the fire.

​“I’ve been getting some feedback as much as I can. The area is blocked off to go to my house. So, the people that are able to have been giving me feedback that the house is still standing. There are also apps that you can check to see where the fire is,” George told Andscape after the Sixers’ 104-99 road loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.

​The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection listed three ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area as of Sunday night, including the Palisades Fire. A fire started in the Pacific Palisades area on Jan. 7 that has since destroyed approximately 5,000 structures, according to ABC News on Monday morning. ABC News also reported Monday that the 23,713-acre fire about 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles was about 13% contained.

​George said his wife, Daniela, and three children are now living in the Philadelphia-area instead of their Pacific Palisades home. Paul George said a friend living in his home in Pacific Palisades has adhered to a recent order to evacuate.

​“Obviously, it’s a challenging time, but I do appreciate first responders, paramedics, fire fighters, everybody that’s kind of helped lead the charge,” George said. “It’s been messy from what I’ve been reading with no water to fight the fires and winds. They couldn’t really contain [the fires] because of the winds. So, just know they’re on my heart. Wish there was things that I could do. But they’re on my heart, they’re on my mind. [I] Just pray that there is an ending solution to it all.”

​George is a native of Palmdale, California, who played for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2019 to 2024. The nine-time NBA All-Star said he purchased a home in Pacific Palisades in 2019. The wealthy West Los Angeles neighborhood is known for its expensive homes, beautiful green landscaping, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, elite schools and its close-knit family friendly community.

​Pacific Palisades is also known for having high-profile celebrity residents. George, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick and Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook also live in the area. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and former NBA star Kiki Vandeweghe also grew up there.

​“For people that don’t know the Palisades area, it’s a whole community over there,” George said. “You have a Palisades [Village] where everybody goes and gathers. And they have great restaurants there. My wife and my kids, we go there and have ice cream days. There’s a movie theater over there. It’s a full-on community and that being lost is devastating because everybody comes out.

“You might see Russell Westbrook; you might see Draymond Green. It’s countless guys. Adam Sandler. Everybody goes to this community. So, it is sad that that’s the reality in that area and there are definitely memories that are gone.”

​Redick’s home and Kerr’s childhood home have been lost in the Palisades fire. Leonard took time off from the Clippers for personal reasons because of the fire. George had 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Sixers against Orlando, but acknowledged that his mind was sidetracked by the Palisades fire.

​“Definitely on my mind,” George said. “It’s hard to be present on most days here just because I got friends in that area. My home, it’s safe as of now. But who knows what a day could do? I’ve been reading up on it, been watching the news. So, a lot of my energy has been going towards just reaching out to out there, checking on my home.

​“I’ve seen a couple friends, people that I’ve known since I’ve been in the community [that have lost homes]. My kids [went] to the schools in that area. Close friends that we’ve made over the past five years, we’ve heard about them losing their homes and it’s sad. And their parents have lost homes that they grew up in. And so, it is a sad time out there.”

​George signed a four-year, $212 million max contract with Sixers last offseason. After a slow start, George is having a strong January, averaging 21.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game and has scored 25 points in each of the past two games. The injury-plagued Sixers (15-22), however, are 2-5 in January after ending 2024 with four-consecutive wins.

Sixers star center Joel Embiid, the 2024 NBA Most Valuable Player, missed the game against the Magic with a foot injury and has only played in two contests this month. It doesn’t get easier for George and the Sixers on Tuesday as they host his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-6), and their rival New York Knicks (26-14) on Wednesday on ESPN.

​“I’m just getting more in tune with my body and then facing reality of some nicks and bruises that I had to kind of adjust to,” George said. “But I think the more games, [the] more shots I put up, there is a better rhythm to kind of find, and that’s really just been the key.”