Report: Paul George Will Return To Clippers’ Lineup Soon

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Paul George will return to the Los Angeles Clippers‘ lineup soon. 

George will not play tonight (2/28) against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a sore left knee. 

"Paul George will be back soon."@wojespn gives an update on the Clippers star's injury. pic.twitter.com/1gktqa4DvN

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 28, 2024

The Clippers are 37-19. They are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. 

George is averaging 22.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 45.6% from the field, 39.5% from beyond the arc and 90.5% from the free-throw line. He’s making $45.7 million. 

George can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option worth $48.8 million. The Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $149 million extension on January 10. LAC is expected to sign George to an extension before free agency starts this offseason. 

A nine-time All-Star, George has career averages of 20.7 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 never been to the NBA Finals. 

According to NBA insider Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Clippers are expected to go all out to keep George and James Harden regardless of how they fare in the 2024 playoffs.

During an interview with NBA reporter Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, George said the Clippers‘ higher-ups asked him, Leonard and Russell Westbrook if they should trade for Harden. The Beard requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers and wanted to get traded to the Clippers. 

“Management came to the three of us, let us know what was going on and asked about it, and we all said ‘do it.’ We wanted it,” George said. “We thought James’ game would fit. Yeah, it was a little rough at first, but we settled into it, everyone sacrificing to make it fit. It just worked. … Everybody has sacrificed. It wasn’t something that had to be asked. We knew what we had to do.”