If you’re hoping to watch Paul George’s preseason debut with the Sixers Friday night, it might be a little tricky.
We’ve got good news and bad news, Sixers fans.
The good news is that the team’s big free-agent acquisition, Paul George, will suit up and make his preseason debut Friday as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Des Moines, Iowa.
The bad news: it’s not being broadcast locally, a league source tells Liberty Ballers.
The two teams are playing at Wells Fargo Arena — not to be confused with the Wells Fargo Center — which is the home of the Timberwolves’ G League team, the Wolves. It’s a cool storyline as Sixers head coach Nick Nurse will coach in his home state and in a G League arena, where he enjoyed so much success and perfected his craft.
Unfortunately, NBC Sports Philadelphia does not send their broadcast crew to road preseason games. It’s also unfortunate that the Timberwolves’ TV partner, Bally Sports North, will not be sending a broadcast crew either. So the game will not be televised in either city locally nor will it be on a national network.
If you’re desperate to watch George’s debut and have access to NBA League Pass, there is (maybe) one option, per Austin Krell of On Pattison:
The NBA will put the in-arena feed of tomorrow’s Sixers-Timberwolves preseason game on League Pass, source tells @OnPattison.
Neither team is broadcasting the game locally.
More information below, story to come soon: pic.twitter.com/T3ozspzQNL
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) October 10, 2024
If you’re a League Pass subscriber, you’re used to being forced to watch the in-arena camera during commercial breaks. Now, you’ll have that for the entire game. It will likely be an awkward viewing experience, but you’d at least be able to watch the game and see George in a Sixers jersey.
It’s a damn shame nobody could figure out a way to get a TV crew there and broadcast the game, especially with no Phillies–Mets Game 5 on the docket (sigh).