For the primary time since he left his hometown of Los Angeles, Paul George confronted his previous membership this previous Wednesday night, and misplaced in a hard-fought conflict which ended 110 to 108 on the new Intuit Dome. The 76ers recruit stated he held no grudges towards his former group’s group, regardless of not reaching an extension settlement this summer season.
In line with the Sixers participant, his relationship with proprietor Steve Ballmer was all the time good, however insisted that he was stunned he wasn’t in a position to stay in a Clippers jersey as his intention was to remain there. He ended up signing a four-year, $212 million contract in free company in Philadelphia.
The nine-time All-Star needed to clear the air. “I believe it received sort of misconstrued or [the] narrative sort of wasn’t written appropriately with the connection with Lawrence [Frank], the connection with Steve Ballmer,” George stated earlier than the Sixers had their morning shootaround at UCLA. “I imply, they have been superior the entire time I used to be right here.”
Paul George stated he doesn’t perceive the boos from Clippers followers.
“I imply it’s silly. I used to be a free agent. It wasn’t one thing that I demanded a commerce or went towards the group… There have been cheers. I admire them. These have been those I performed laborious for. The boos, I didn’t… pic.twitter.com/rAVRQvZASw
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) November 7, 2024
“Form of the explanation why it was such a surprising choice the way it performed out on the finish,” he shared. “However they have been superior. My time right here, I believe that was sort of refreshing to be alongside and have a partnership like that with a entrance workplace. And so I believe that was in all probability the spotlight of the entire [time with the Clippers]. Simply how nice they have been in my tenure right here.”
The Sixers man defined on his personal podcast that he initially would’ve accepted the identical three-year, $150 million extension supply that Kawhi Leonard acquired earlier this 12 months. As negotiations dragged on with none consensus, George talked about that the extension speak took one other flip.
Regardless of his finest intentions, this Wednesday’s recreation was removed from straightforward for him. The guard was restricted to 24 minutes towards his former employers, however was nonetheless in a position to drop 18 factors, earn 7 rebounds and hand out two assists.
Nevertheless, his largest problem got here from the stands, as Clippers followers started to boo him every time he held the ball in his arms. “It was truthful, I assume,” George stated following the Sixers defeat. “There have been some cheers. There have been some boos. I believe it was sort of break up down the center.”
Clippers proprietor even went on to say that he would have liked for Paul to remain put in L.A. however group had different priorities to handle first
Earlier than the competition, proprietor Steve Ballmer addressed one of many largest tales of the evening, with former participant Paul George heading again to Los Angeles to play towards his previous group for the primary time. In line with the manager, he all the time needed the All-Star to remain, however believes the membership ended up making the very best transfer.
“We have been in a position to get three guys who’re powerful, hard-playing guys,” Ballmer advised the press after a busy summer season signing Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Nico Batum. “And we nonetheless have the flexibility to persistently make ourselves higher. So, it was the appropriate alternative for us. Paul clearly thought it was the appropriate alternative for him. I’ll miss him.”
On the opposite aspect, the brand new 76ers recruit stated he understands the basketball enterprise and respect his former employers. That is why the veteran guard prevented falling into controversy over the truth that he wasn’t in a position to lengthen his contract with the Clippers, as he stays grateful for the years collectively.
The membership ready a video tribute for him earlier than Wednesday evening’s recreation on the Intuit Dome, as Paul joined the franchise in Los Angeles to try to conquer a championship in his hometown. George contributed to the Clippers reaching their only-ever Western Convention Finals look in 2021.
