Celtics’ Paul George: ‘I feel great again’ after two injury-riddled seasons

Paul George knows the questions are there. After two injury-plagued seasons, he says he finally has a different answer.

“I feel great again,” George said Tuesday during his introductory press conference with the Celtics, via John Karalis of NBA On SI. “I feel like I’ve turned that corner of dealing with injuries.”

That would certainly be welcome news in Boston. George, 36, appeared in just 78 regular-season games over the past two years. He believes his performance against the Celtics while with the 76ers in last season’s playoffs offered a glimpse of what he can still do when healthy.

“It was almost like a dog being let off the leash,” George said. “You’ve been chained up for so long.”

George said he felt capable of moving again, creating advantages and becoming an offensive weapon. He joked that Boston may have been caught off guard by the fact that he could still move that well.

Now he’s joining the team he helped eliminate. George arrived in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown out of Boston, and he understands why Celtics fans weren’t exactly celebrating the return.

“I understand how huge JB was not only for the organization but here in the city,” George said. “I didn’t take it personal. To be honest, they should have a relationship, emotionally, to that trade.”

He isn’t promising to replace Brown, either. George said his goal is to help keep the Celtics in contention and give them an opportunity to win.

“I believe I’m a winning player,” he said.

Boston will gladly take that. A healthy one would help even more.