Paul George opened up on his five-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers during his introductory press conference with his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers. George expressed gratitude to the Clippers and expressed how both parties have left the relationship positively.
“Amazing time there. No regrets. Super thankful to Steve and Lawrence, they went out and gave me an opportunity to play at home. At that point in time, it had a ton of value for me, my friends, my family, and have a legitimate shot at chasing a championship every season.”
George got real on how injuries stopped them from achieving their shared goals, but that he holds no negativity towards anyone in the organization and made a family-oriented decision.
“Obviously, injuries deterred us a little bit. But to speak on that situation as a whole, there’s no ill will. I am forever grateful for the opportunity they gave me to come back. It didn’t work out, that’s business. I had to make the right decision for my family.”
The nine-time All-Star made it clear that everyone was happy with how the relationship ended.
“So, again, I think both sides had a great mutual talk as the situation played out. I felt there was great closure on the situation. They’re happy for me, I’m happy for them, and I’m a Sixer now.”
“Amazing time there. No regrets… They gave me an opportunity to play at home… It didn’t work out, that’s business. I had to make the right decision for my family.”
Paul George on his time with the Clippers 🗣️
(via @BySamDiGiovanni) pic.twitter.com/c6OUzKXDwj
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 23, 2024
George averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over five seasons with the Clippers.
In that time, the franchise made the Playoff four out of five seasons and had its deepest playoff run in franchise history, making it to the Conference Finals in 2021. Unfortunately, one injury or the other ruined every Playoff run the team had except the 2020 Playoffs where the team capitulated while holding a 3-1 series lead in the second round as championship favorites.
George made three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team in his five-year stint with the Clippers.
Paul George Called The Clippers LA’s ‘B-Team’
Paul George made it clear that his relationship with the Clippers upon exiting was a positive one, but he’s thrown some subliminal shots at the franchise on ‘Podcast P.’ The latest episode sees him openly discuss everyone telling him that the Clippers were LA’s B-Team compared to the Lakers.
“I think initially, coming back to LA, that was home, when I first came back to LA. But it’s not the same love, because when I was in LA, they said, ‘You should’ve been a Laker.’ It wasn’t no ‘Welcome to the Clippers!’ ‘We happy you in [Los Angeles] but you should have been a Laker!’ That’s all I was hearing… I’m on the B Team. That’s how the vibe and the love felt.”
The George and Kawhi Leonard duo was put together to compete against the LeBron James and Anthony Davis duo on the Lakers. It’s safe to say the Lakers have summarily won this rivalry despite going years without a regular season win over the Clippers because their star duo is still together, having won a title (2020) and made another Conference Finals (2023) together.
The Clippers have been LA’s B-Team without question, but George’s presence on the Clippers didn’t do much to change that either.
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