Paul George‘s homecoming to face the Clippers at their new Intuit Dome had all the drama you’d expect. The Sixers forward, now wearing Philadelphia’s blue and red, was met with a mixed reaction in front of 15,627 fans.
The night had it all — a video tribute honoring his time in Los Angeles, boos from the dedicated Wall section, and even a nod to the past playoff runs that defined his Clippers tenure.
George delivered a strong performance, going 7-for-9 from the field and logging 18 points, 7 boards, and 3 steals. But the scoreboard told a different story, with the Sixers falling 110-98 to his old squad. For George, the night was a clash of gratitude and reminders of why he’s no longer in a Clippers uniform.
He acknowledged the tribute and labeled the franchise “first class,” yet the boos — and signs poking at his podcast comments — were a reminder of just how fickle the fan-athlete relationship can be.
“It is stupid,” George said of the boos, via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “I mean, I was a free agent, you know what I mean? It wasn’t something that I demanded a trade or went against the team here. I was a free agent. The team presented something that was team-friendly, and I did what was best for me in that situation.
“So there were the cheers. I appreciate them. Those were the ones that I played hard for. The boos, I didn’t get it. I still don’t get it when I go [back] to Indy, but it is what it is. It’s sports. I look forward to next year being back here and more boos.”
A four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers marked his departure, but George left no doubt about where he stood with the Clippers’ front office. “They were awesome,” he said, emphasizing respect for Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank, even as he admitted shock at how things ended.
It wasn’t just business; there was emotion, too. Postgame, George shared moments with former teammates like James Harden and Russell Westbrook and embraced friends courtside. And while George hailed the new Intuit Dome as an architectural wonder, he added a pointed observation: “I wish it would’ve been a little bit more packed out.”
In the NBA, loyalty is rare, but history sticks. For George, Wednesday night was a reminder of both.
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