Paul George’s Dad Wanted Son To Join Lakers After Clippers Exit

Paul George‘s dad wanted his son to join the Los Angeles Lakers after his Los Angeles Clippers exit, but the Lakers had no money to pay George, one of the best players in the NBA. 

George is friends with Lakers stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James. 

A versatile forward, George left the Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency after LAC didn’t offer him the contract he was looking for. 

Paul George‘s dad on PG leaving the Clippers:

“I felt like they stabbed us in the back because I thought Paul did a whole lot for the team. I think he gave them 110% and what he was asking, it wasn’t a whole lot. But they saw something different… I was looking at going… pic.twitter.com/7c691xChzS

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 2, 2024

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

Meanwhile, LeBron, Davis and the Lakers won the championship in 2020. 

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.

George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers after negotiations with the Clippers failed. 

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.

The Sixers now have a “Big 3” of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

The Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 postseason, while the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round.