- Clippers star says every NBA player has averaged 20 or 30 points at some point in their basketball career
- George says the stars are players who have the ultimate confidence to “break out”
- The key to success in the NBA is “knowing your role” and personal limitations
Clippers swingman Paul George knows what each NBA player is capable of on the basketball court, but not every player is on the same level. In the NBA, stars and role-players have a very distinct purpose that comes with wildly different expectations.
“Everybody that’s in the league has been a 30-point scorer or 20-point scorer at some point in their career,” Paul said on his podcast. “And did it easily. The top guys, the elite scorers, are just freaks is what it is. They have that much confidence to break out.”
According to PG, the biggest factor in success for role-players involves finding their niche and playing within their own limitations, which can often be a hard transition for guys who are used to being at the top of their field. “I’m just gonna stick to this and help him, be an extension of him. And I think it is a rough transition. Guys are elite as kids but once you get drafted, what you can’t do gets found instantly,” said George.
Don't be fooled, all NBA players are WALKING BUCKETS 🪣 pic.twitter.com/VWbIJ0xTFb
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) September 6, 2023
It can be easy to forget just how skilled even the worst NBA players are. The NBA, which is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading basketball league, is so competitive that the average fan typically loses track of how much better they are than the rest.
Dwight Howard, for example, averaged a 30-point triple-double for the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan despite going unsigned by NBA teams. Stephon Marbury is another player who dominated outside of the NBA, averaging 45 points a game for the Beijing Ducks at 35 years old.
Dwight and Marbury were both stars during their prime, but even the average NBA bench warmer has the potential to go off for 20 on any given night, and it’s why finding a balance in the locker room has become increasingly difficult.
Does Paul George Overstep His Role?
While PG is undoubtedly an important member of the LA Clippers, he has conceded the top leadership role to Kawhi Leonard, who is unquestionably the best player on the Clippers. Despite averaging 23.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, the Clippers are Kawhi’s team and everyone knows it.
Last season In the aftermath of his solo run with the Pacers and Thunder, George realized that he could not be the top option for a title-contending team and now he’s playing second-fiddle to the former Finals MVP.
This is probably the smartest move for George, as there have been reports that he overstepped his role and that the team’s role-players have risen against him in the past.
“I’ve heard that because of Paul George’s inconsistent play, it’s difficult for his teammates to put up with his platitudes,” reported FOX’s Chris Broussard. “They really don’t wanna hear him talkin’ about giving speeches in the locker room when they see a max player, former MVP candidate, perennial All-Star playing like that.”
How Many True Superstars Are In The NBA?
While NBA teams have been handing out max contracts like candy, there are probably only a handful of players who are actually worth that kind of money. In 2023, those players include Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid. Outside of those guys, and possibly LeBron James, everyone else is on a tier below.
In the case of Paul George, there’s no question that he spent the majority of his basketball career as the captain of his teams. In Indiana, OKC, and even at the California State University, Fresno, he was the go-to option… and we saw how far he was able to get.
With the Clippers, and Kawhi leading the show, George has got his best chance for a title and that’s exactly the way he wanted it.
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