When the Boston Celtics acquired veteran Paul George from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jaylen Brown, very few people supported the move, considering Brown's success and contributions to the franchise. However, the decision seems to be proving better than many initially anticipated. George has continued to demonstrate his value both on and off the court, earning considerable praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Following the Celtics' 125-111 win over the Chicago Bulls in their NBA Cup opener on Friday, Mazzulla highlighted everything the veteran forward has brought to the team.

“I think his impact goes beyond what's happening on the offensive end,” Mazzulla said. “I think his impact in the locker room, his coachability, his open-mindedness, his humility, his willingness to do whatever it takes, taking care of his body, his communication in the film room, defensively, his ball pressure, his activity.”

With his experience and versatility, George is no longer expected to shoulder the offensive responsibility every night. Instead, his ability to deliver explosive scoring performances while contributing in several other areas makes him an ideal complementary star alongside Jayson Tatum.

Though replacing a player of Brown's caliber was never going to be an easy task, the nine-time All-Star has already given Boston plenty of reasons to feel encouraged about its decision. He played an important role in Friday's win, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

Meanwhile, Tatum continued to establish himself as Boston's primary offensive option. The Celtics superstar recorded 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 34 minutes of action.

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Payton Pritchard was also the standout performer for Boston with a season-high 30 points off the bench to lead the Celtics' offensive charge.

The win extended Boston's winning streak to four games following its season-opening loss against the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics will now look to maintain their momentum when they face the Orlando Magic on Sunday.