Clippers’ Paul George Excited To Return To Indiana For All-Star Weekend: ‘People Still Give Me Love’

During an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George talked about returning to Indiana for All-Star weekend. 

George spent the first seven years of his career with the Indiana Pacers before requesting a trade in the summer of 2017. 

“People still give me love,” Paul George said. “It’s one of those things where they are very scared to say it in your face. But when it’s a crowd and I can’t pinpoint and find out who’s booing, they’ll do it. But when I’m out in the streets, if I’m at a restaurant, it’s one-on-one, it’s, ‘Oh we miss you. Come back.’ I hear that, but it’s still love here. Some of the organization people I’m forever grateful to and I’m happy to have crossed paths with them in my career.”

George averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Pacers. He made four All-Star teams and won the 2012-13 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. 

The Pacers traded George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in July 2017. George spent two seasons with the Thunder before getting traded to the Clippers in July 2019. 

George would be delighted to get his jersey retired one day by the Pacers, but he’s uncertain if that will happen. 

“Honestly, you think about the guys, there’s only what, [four] guys that’s retired there,” George said. “But when you think about, again, the guys that are up there, Reggie (Miller), what, 18 years? I think for them it’s a longevity that stands out in that arena. I just didn’t play enough play long enough there.”

George is averaging 22.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Clippers this season. It will be intriguing to see how Pacers fans greet him during All-Star weekend.

The Clippers are in third place in the West, while the Pacers are in sixth place in the East.