Clippers star Paul George may not rank among the top 1- players in the game right now, but his status as one of the elites cannot be denied. With a smooth game and well-rounded impact, George is often cited as a role model and inspiration for many young players today. After being asked about being the favorite player of several budding stars, George admitted that it was cool to get that kind of respect.
“It’s just a cool moment in my career for someone that’s been dragged at times in the media,” said the Clippers swingman. “To have some of the top talents with me being their role model, it means a lot to me. It means I’ve been playing the game the right way, and means I’ve been relatable. It’s awesome to hear that. Just makes me want to keep going in the direction that I’ve been going.”
While George is pretty divisive among the fans, he is widely favored among his fellow players. Earlier this year, Hornets rookie Brandon Miller referred to George as the basketball “GOAT” and Andre Iguodala has called him one of the two most talented players in the game.
The Paul George Controversy
With averages of 20.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, the Clippers star has built a solid career through his first 13 seasons. While his full NBA tenure is impressive, not everyone agrees with his approach to the game. For George, like his teammate and co-star Kawhi Leonard, preserving his body comes before everything, even if it means missing out on games and jeopardizing team chemistry. The results have been less than ideal for the Clippers, who have struggled to find continuity while their biggest stars and leaders frequently take nights off.
For George, the issues don’t stop there. Even when he’s on the court and playing, Paul has a tendency to be inconsistent with his shot and it’s been hurting the Clippers in the postseason since he first arrived back in 2019. If Paul George can start to fix these issues, it could bring his game up to another level that we haven’t seen since his days in Oklahoma City. If not, it could signal the beginning of the end for his NBA prime. Either way, the Clippers are going to need him at 100% if they want any hope of capturing a title.
Now Or Never For The LA Clippers
Entering the 2023-24 season, the Clippers remain one of the biggest question marks of all. At their best, it’s hard to imagine LA not being among the last teams standing in the playoffs this spring. At their worst, this team could struggle to stay out of the play-in tournament, just like we saw last season. This time, however, time is running out for them to accomplish their mission.
At 32 and 33, respectively, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are in the final chapters of their careers and the odds for their success may never be higher than right now. Finishing 5th in the West last season, they pushed the Suns to five games despite only having Kawhi for one of them. The hope for Clippers fans is that good health and better luck will help them do better in this campaign, but it is impossible to predict their trajectory right now with so many variables at play.
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