He was playing 60 miles from Palmdale, where he was reared by his mother and father, who would frequently attend his games. His wife and three children had settled in Los Angeles, made friends, and made it their home.
“I had it in my mind this whole time — Kawhi brought me here, Kawhi was the guy who wanted me to play here, I’m stuck, I’m glued to him,” George said on Wednesday after his Philadelphia 76ers lost 110-98 against his former team. “That was my thinking. That was my thinking. I wanted to ride it out.”
Leonard brought George to the Clippers in 2019, while he was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They both grew up in Southern California, were only one year apart in age, and worked their way to superstardom despite not being widely recruited in high school or attending showy institutions. (George went to Fresno State, whereas Leonard attended San Diego State.)
George found it quite appealing to partner up with Leonard, who was a two-time champion and regarded as one of the league’s best two-way players. So, despite his success in Oklahoma City, George requested a trade to the Clippers, where he spent the last five seasons before contract negotiations worsened last summer. In July, Geroge signed a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia as a free agency.
It’s no secret that “what ifs” haunted Leonard and George, who were both injured. George, however, continued to believe in their potential. George said he wouldn’t have noticed Leonard being out indefinitely this season due to tendinitis in his right knee.
“If Kawhi is out right now, cool, take your time,” George told FOX Sports. “Still, my point of view was that I was here for the long term. I am committed to a long-term relationship with you. That was how I viewed the entire negotiation. That’s the guy who wanted me here. I’m going to ride it out. I am loyal to him.”
However, negotiations with the Clippers did not go as expected.
George would have inked a three-year, $150 million extension when Leonard agreed to those terms in January. However, the Clippers resisted, and negotiations stagnated. As free agency neared, George requested that the aforementioned agreement include a no-trade clause or a four-year maximum extension, but the Clippers refused to accept those terms.
“The process was a gut punch just because I feel like I’ve done everything they asked whether it was injuries that I was trying to play through, being available,” George shared with FOX Sports. “I know that’s my job, but there was stuff I was trying to get done just to be there for the guys and show up for the team.” When I was healthy, I fulfilled my role as a player.”
George attempted to take the load anytime Leonard was sidelined, which was frequently given that he had missed 179 of the Clippers’ 435 games.
During his tenure with the team, George went from being mocked with the nickname “Pandemic P” after the Clippers collapsed in the second round of the 2020 playoffs to being regarded as the hero of the 2021 postseason, leading the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. During that run, Leonard suffered an ACL tear in Game 4 of the second round against Utah. George reacted spectacularly in Game 5 on the road, scoring 37 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to lead them to victory. He averaged 26.9 points and 9.6 rebounds during the postseason.
“We had some great years together,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of George, with Game 5 being his favorite memory of the superstar.”If we lost that game, I don’t think we would’ve advanced.”
The Clippers have failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the past three seasons, with both Leonard and George suffering critical injuries. However, last season, George had the most effective shooting season of his career (47.1% from the field and 41.3% from outside the arc), and he attempted to shoulder the weight in the postseason while Leonard only played two games due to injury. (The Clippers lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks, who advanced to the Western Conference Finals.)
George admitted that the negotiations with the Clippers surprised him, particularly at first.
“There was a lot of moving pieces,” George told FOX Sports. “There were injuries involved, and a lot of it was on my shoulders, but I tried to stand up and be there for the group. It was a little gut-hit. The initial offer was the worst aspect of it all.”
But George has no hard emotions.
During his time with the Clippers, he referred to owner Steve Ballmer and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank as “awesome”. He also stated that there is “no bad blood” between him and the Clippers’ stars, noting that he kept Leonard, James Harden, and the now-departed Russell Westbrook continually aware of his thoughts last season.
What about the Clippers fans who booed him during Wednesday’s starting lineups? He called that “stupid,” pointing out that he gave his all for the team and didn’t demand a move. And he didn’t back down when asked about supporters holding a sign that read “PG THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK,” which appeared to be about George declaring on his podcast that playing for the Clippers was like being on the “B team” since Lakers fans told him he should’ve joined the 17-time champs.
“Oh, well, I’m sure they’re all probably subscribers,” George replied to his doubters. “So it’s a win-win.”
George is now looking ahead, despite the 76ers’ 1-6 start.
After adding George, the 76ers were immediately considered title contenders. George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey have the potential to be the finest “Big 3” in the NBA, with George providing a dynamic wing who is a strong two-way player.
Fans will have to wait and see what they can become.
George missed the first five games of the season after sustaining a bone bruise in his left knee during the preseason. Embiid has yet to play a game due to left knee management and a three-game suspension for shoving a reporter, but he is scheduled to make his season debut Tuesday. Tyrese Maxey is projected to miss many weeks due to a right hamstring injury.
But George is prepared to be patient.
Despite initially believing he would stay by Leonard’s side indefinitely, he is now delighted about his new partnership with Embiid.
They talked a lot over the summer, and they are the most confident in their abilities.
“We had the conversations of we have a real shot at winning — and winning for multiple years,” George recalled to FOX Sports. “Tyrese is a young guy who will continue to improve. I believe I’m in a terrific position to spread out and play while remaining productive. Joel is in his prime. We have a fantastic roster.”
So now George is preparing for a new chapter.
He has high ambitions once more, and he hopes that they will be realized with this new squad.
“We had initial conversations, like, we can win this year,” stated the coach.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for Fox Sports. She has previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, Bay Area News Group, and the San Antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter, @melissarohlin.
