Paul George Says Lil Dicky Explaining How to Save Money in 76ers Video Impacted Him

Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVJuly 15, 2024

Jim Cowsert/NBAE via Getty Images

Playing with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey may have been a major selling point to get Paul George to sign in Philadelphia, but rapper Lil Dicky helped put the deal over the edge.

George said the rapper’s comments on saving money helped sway him to make the move from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.

“It sold me. … What hit me was the saving money. It impacted me. It had a little touch on me,” George said on his podcast (9:05 mark).

In a video prepared by the Sixers for their pitch to George, Lil Dicky explained what his $3 million house in Los Angeles looks like compared to what he could buy in the Philadelphia area. A native of the Philadelphia area, Lil Dicky said his career as a rapper and actor forces him to stay in Los Angeles, while George could get more “bang for his buck” by taking a max contract with the Sixers.

“You had an influence. That’s a badge of honor right there,” George said.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Sixers offered more bucks in general. George signed a four-year, $211.6 million contract with the Sixers. By contrast, the Clippers weren’t even willing to offer George the same three-year, $149.7 million deal they gave Kawhi Leonard in January.

George has said he never wanted to leave Los Angeles, his hometown, but the Clippers refused to offer respect in the form of a long-term commitment. The Sixers were, and they had Lil Dicky in their corner, which apparently didn’t hurt.