Paul George had his reasons why fans of his former team, the Indiana Pacers still boo him when he plays against them.
“They boo me because, at the end of the day, it’s love,” the LA Clippers star explained on Podcast P With Paul George. “I still got love there. I hung banners there. I’ll always be grateful for the time that I was there.”
Those Pacers-Heat battles in the early 2010s were INSANE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XQzGSmLcAD
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) March 16, 2023
George’s NBA career began with the Pacers after they drafted him as the 10th overall pick in the 2010 Draft. It’s well-documented that nine NBA teams passed up on drafting George and that included his current team, the Clippers.
Prior to his foray into the league, George had created ripples with his game, leading Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears to quote what the guard had told him.
“I feel like I have all the intangibles, all the tools to be one of the best players not only in this draft, but to play in this game, ” George had said. “It’s something I’m really taking to heart. My dream is to not only get drafted — that’s a goal of mine — but my dream is to someday be a legend at this game. I want to work to be that.”
And true to his name, George delivered as he’s considered to be one of the more prolific two-way players in the modern-day NBA.
Why Did Paul George Leave The Indiana Pacers?
After starting off his rookie season with the Pacers and averaging 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in his seven seasons with the franchise, George had a rather murky exit with the side.
Speaking on All The Smoke, he explained the reason behind his departure and his biggest concern was their lack of interest in winning. “It’s An Organization That Just Cares To Be Competitive,” George said. “They Don’t Care To Win. They Got Pressure From The City Of Indiana To Be Competitive. That’s Where They Hang Their Hat On.”
Whether the franchise had the intent or not leaves a lot up in the air, but George had his thoughts out in the open. He subsequently played for the Oklahoma City Thunder for two seasons before making his way to LA. Now, he has one responsibility with teammates Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook: Win an NBA title. Only time will tell how this season ends for George.
Safe to say, the boos at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse won’t stop each time he suits up to play there.
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