Paul George

Paul George ‘didn’t get’ the boo’s from Clippers fans in his return to Los Angeles

Wednesday night marked Paul George’s “big return” to LA, this time in Sixers colors, squaring up against his former squad, the Clippers.

It was a chance to show up his old team after cashing in on a four-year, $212 million max contract over the summer, but George didn’t exactly make a statement, putting up 18 points on just nine shots with four turnovers, landing himself with a rough -11 in a game that Philly dropped 110-98.

Not exactly a hero’s return, but no one really gives a shit about basketball in early-November, right? Plus, it was PG’s second game in a 76ers uniform so it’s not like this game mattered in in the long run. I’m over it already but do think it’s important to help our guy PG figure out why he was being booed last night in Los Angeles.

Pretty standard boos all-around for Paul George from Clippers fans:

Clippers Fans send a message from “The Wall”

Side Note: The Wall at the Intuit Dome which serves as the designated section where only Clippers fans are allowed to sit is one of the coolest sections that I’ve personally witnessed in a basketball arena.

Paul George told the media that he “didn’t get” why Clippers fans were booing him. Here’s the clip (no pun intended) from his postgame presser before we jump into all of the possible reasons why it happened.

Paul George Postgame: “The boos, I didn’t get it.”

“It is stupid, I mean, I was a free agent. It wasn’t something that I demanded a trade or went against the team here. I did what was best for me in that situation. So there were the cheers. I appreciate them. The boos, I didn’t get. 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.” [PG]

Reason 1: Clippers Fans Regret Giving Up Haul to Land Paul George With Nothing to Show For It

In the summer of 2019, the Los Angeles Clippers made a bold move to acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder, trading away Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a significant package of draft assets:

  • Five first-round picks: 2021 (via Miami), 2022, 2024, 2026, and 2023 (via Miami, protected).
  • Two pick swaps: 2023 and 2025.

This trade was instrumental in pairing George with Kawhi Leonard, aiming to establish the Clippers as championship contenders. In case you were wondering, that did NOT happen.

Boo-worthy because of the trade? “That’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.”

Reason 2: Ding, Ding, Ding! Clippers Fans Booed PG Because He Called Them The “B” Team in Los Angeles after he left

Well there we have it, right?

The boos had nothing to do with Paul George turning down a “team-friendly deal” that was actually $200 million for 3-years at the young, ripe age of 43 but rather because on his way out the door PG decided to call the Clippers the “B Team” in Los Angeles.

To Be Clear: Paul George was right, obviously, the Los Angeles Clippers are the “B Team” in Los Angeles and they will never be the Lakers.

Okay. Fine. That’s worth some boo’s for sure. I think we can all agree on that.

The B Team Comments After Vowing to Shed That Title?

Paul George, I love you bud. You’re in Philly and a part of the 76ers. You’re “our guy” now and I will go to battle with you every step of the way but how on earth can you immediately call the Clippers the B Team when you leave L.A. after you started your journey there in 2019 with a promise to shed that “little brother” label?

Not good, my guy. Not good at all.

Look, we all get that words stick around forever in the age of the internet. Clippers fans didn’t forget the playoff struggles or the high hopes that fizzled. And they definitely didn’t miss his parting shots. It’s almost like George expected a warm welcome with open arms, completely missing that his own comments were fueling the boos.

That level of “not getting it” might almost be admirable—fans are die-hard and don’t just brush off jabs at their team’s legacy. So yeah, the booing? Totally predictable. Underperforming in the playoffs, trashing the team as soon as he left? PG should’ve known better than to expect anything but a cold reception.

Words matter, and Clippers fans? They’ve got long memories.

I will say, for a player who gave his all to the city where he is from and led them the furthest they have ever been in the playoffs, to not get ANYTHING BUT hate seems a little aggressive, no? Also, it’s definitely not PG’s fault that his former co-part Kawhi Leonard is literally never available or healthy.

This isn’t Tobias Harris. This is Paul George.

Side Note: Good chance I’m still mad that PG couldn’t play 10 minutes a game a few weeks ago because his “cardio wasn’t there” yet.

Why can’t Paul George play 10 minutes a game? The 76ers’ continue to be the most annoying team in the NBA

Luckily, basketball really doesn’t matter until Christmas at the earliest, right…? RIGHT…?!

There’s clearly not a ton of things to be happy about with the Sixers right now but at the very least, hopefully we were able to provide some clarity on why exactly Paul George was booed by the Clippers faithful.

As for the actual game, on a minute restriction (24 minutes), George put up 18 points along with seven rebounds. The Sixers, now sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference, fell to the Clippers in a 110-98 loss. They are a miserable 1-6 on the season without Joel Embiid in the lineup and to make matters worse, Tyrese Maxey is going to miss significant time with a hamstring injury.

Hang in there, Sixers fans. It’s going to be a rough few months.

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