Paul George's brutal comeback against the Clippers: "They stabbed him in the back"
The departure of PG from the Angels to the Philadelphia 76ers continues to stir due to economic rather than sporting reasons
Paul George decided not to accept the low renewal offer from Los Angeles Clippers to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. It seems that PG didn't take the deal received from his then-franchise too well, and his father has recently made it very clear.
Even two months later, George's departure remains a topic of conversation, especially in the context of his relationship with the Clippers, the team he considered his home and with whom he hoped to win an NBA championship.
Recently, Paul George invited his father, Paul George Sr., to his "Podcast P with Paul George" show. In the episode, they discussed various topics, including George's departure from Los Angeles and the Clippers. When asked about his true feelings about the situation, George Sr. held nothing back.
“It was painful,” said Paul George Sr. about his son's departure. “It was like... I felt stabbed in the back because I thought Paul did a lot for the team, in terms of the fan base, the fans were there. He was there. I think he gave them 110%, and what he was asking for wasn't much. But they saw something different.”
The Clippers offered George a three-year contract worth approximately $150 million, a deal similar to what they offered to Kawhi Leonard. George, who initially wanted a maximum four-year contract for $220 million, was willing to accept the three-year offer but wanted a rare no-trade clause to ensure he would stay in Los Angeles. The Clippers did not offer either the maximum contract or the no-trade clause, leading George to make the best decision for him and his family.
“I didn't want him to accept anything,” George Sr. added. “He stands up for what he believes, and he felt what they offered was nonsense. And I wasn't going to sugarcoat it either. Yes, I'm with you 100%. If you have to go, we go. Of course, that put us in an uncomfortable situation, but that's okay. You love being home, but sometimes home can slow you down. He worked for this, and I felt he should have been rewarded. So we didn't hesitate. What, they came at you with this? Oh, no, you have to go.”
Clapback from the father
Before free agency began, Paul George met with the Clippers one last time to give them the opportunity to match the offers he wanted. When they didn't, George used the meeting to inform them of his decision to leave. A few hours later, in free agency, George agreed to a maximum four-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers, the highest amount he could have obtained from any team other than the Clippers, who could have offered a maximum of four years and $220 million.
Paul George Sr. mentioned that leaving Los Angeles was tough, but he initially thought his son might sign with the local rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, if he left the Clippers. “I was thinking, well, then we'll do it on the other side [with the Lakers], but they had already spent too much money,” George Sr. joked. “I thought we'd still go down the tunnel, just dressed in a different color.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El brutal zasca de Paul George contra los Clippers: "Lo apuñalaron por detrás"
