Philadelphia sports fans are known for their passionate and unfiltered reactions, and they lived up to their reputation during Friday night’s WWE SmackDown event at the Wells Fargo Center. When the cameras panned to Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George and his teammates in the crowd, the arena erupted—not in cheers, but in resounding boos.
George, along with teammates Justin Edwards, Guerschon Yabusele, and Adem Bona, was attending the event as part of a promotional appearance. The group even held up a custom 76ers-themed WWE championship belt, hoping to engage with the crowd. However, the gesture did little to win over the fans, who used the opportunity to voice their frustration with the team’s disappointing season.
Paul George pulled up to WWE Smackdown in Philly tonight…
The crowd booed him 😬 (via @FadeAwayMedia)pic.twitter.com/t5odAF8Nan
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 8, 2025
The 76ers entered the 2024-25 NBA season with high expectations, bolstered by the addition of George in free agency. However, injuries to key players, including Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, have derailed their campaign. The team currently sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, far from the championship aspirations they began the season with. George himself has struggled to meet expectations, averaging his lowest points per game in a decade.
The boos at SmackDown were a reflection of the growing discontent among Philadelphia fans, who have endured a season of underwhelming performances and missed opportunities. Even WWE announcer Joe Tessitore acknowledged the reaction on the broadcast, noting,
“These Philly fans—you can get a mixed reaction when struggles happen.”
