Paul George Says Playing For Clippers Instead Of Lakers Felt Like Being On ‘B Team’

On the latest episode of his podcast, NBA star Paul George said playing for the Los Angeles Clippers instead of the Los Angeles Lakers felt like being on the “B Team.”

George, who was born and raised in Palmdale, California, spent five seasons with the Clippers. 

Lakers fans tired to warn Paul George pic.twitter.com/2jdQobhWsg

— Ralph Mason (@Ralph_MasonJr) July 23, 2024

George and Kawhi Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019. LAC never reached the NBA Finals. 

In 263 games with the Clippers, George averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.4 blocks. He made three All-Star teams and helped the franchise reach the 2021 Western Conference Finals, where the Clippers lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games. 

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Clippers in 2023-24 while shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 90.7% from the free-throw line.

The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games.

George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers after negotiations with the Clippers failed. LAC signed Leonard to a three-year, $153 million extension in January.

George said the Clippers offered him a three-year, $150 million contract. When George countered by asking for a no-trade clause in the deal, LAC declined.

George requested a four-year contract worth $212 million without the no-trade clause, but the Clippers weren’t interested.

One of the top two-way players in the NBA, George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers. He has made nine All-Star teams, six All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams.

George revealed on his podcast that he spoke to Leonard about leaving the Clippers for the Sixers. 

“I owed Kawhi that conversation,” George said on his podcast. “I called him up and was just like, man, listen, I think I’m going to go elsewhere. Conversations with the Clippers didn’t go how I wanted to. I kind of broke down how I told you guys how it all played out and we had that conversation and I was like, man, I got to do what’s best. He understood like ‘Go get your bag like P, go get your back. I can’t even be mad at you.’ I look at Kawhi as one of my best friends in this league. Somebody that I fuck with. Our families love each other. So it was tough to leave him just with how much I enjoyed being out there with him. That was one of a big decision too that weighed a lot on me was just, damn, I’m leaving my boy. But I had to have that conversation with him. We talked and he gave me his blessings of like, man, just go do what’s best for you.”