WATCH: Paul George Reveals Why He Chose the Sixers on New Episode of ‘Podcast P’

Paul George Reveals Why He Chose the Sixers on New Episode of 'Podcast P'

Paul George hits his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George, presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, as a new member of the Philadelphia 76ers. PG offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers, sharing where negotiations with the Clippers went wrong and delivering heartfelt parting words to Clipper Nation.

In this revealing episode, PG discusses the 76ers’ compelling free agency pitch, his excitement about teaming up with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and the significance of choosing the #8 jersey. He also opens up about his conversation with Kawhi Leonard, in which he reveals his decision to leave Los Angeles. He provides an in-depth account of his negotiations with the Clippers, describing his initial desire to stay with the team and the disconnect he felt during the process.

Just the idea of playing with such a presence in Joel [Embiid] and then just a fresh start, new opportunity. I was pretty open on the conversation and the decision. I think stuff was kind of at a [stand] still with Clippers, which opened me into looking at other teams, hearing other programs out and ultimately it was more so just the idea of playing with one of the best young point guards in the league and one of the best, if not the best, big in the league in Joel [Embiid]. So I mean it was kind of just like, let’s see what this looks like.”

“Just to put it out there, I never wanted to leave LA initially. I was not trying to leave LA– LA is home. This is where I wanted to finish at. I wanted to work as hard as possible to win one in LA, that was the goal…the first initial deal was I thought kind of disrespectful.”

“It is business. I was torn a little bit because of just the history we had these past five years…We had some good ups, we had some downs, but I thought I deserved more, especially more than first initial contract. That part you can’t never overlook. Like, ‘That’s really how y’all felt?’ And so after that it was kind of just was like, what else is out there?” 

Speaking on the #8, George revealed: “My idol ‘The Bean’ Kobe Bryant – my way of idolizing Kobe and something that meant something outside of 24 and 13”

You can watch PG’s episode below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Paul George Signs $212 Million Deal with 76ers

Paul George Teams with BetterHelp to Give Away $3M in Free Therapy

In a major offseason move, free agent forward Paul George has committed to a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources confirmed to ESPN early Monday. The deal includes a player option for the final season in 2027-28, providing flexibility for the nine-time All-Star.

George’s decision reunites him with the Eastern Conference, where he aims to bolster the 76ers’ lineup alongside MVP center Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey — their collective goal: challenging the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Negotiations culminated after a pivotal meeting in Los Angeles between George, represented by agent Aaron Mintz of CAA, and key 76ers personnel, including owner Josh Harris and basketball operations head Daryl Morey. Sixers legend Julius Erving and former Pacers executive Peter Dinwiddie’s presence underscored Philadelphia’s commitment to securing George’s signature.

The 34-year-old forward, known for his scoring prowess and defensive acumen, left the LA Clippers after five seasons, during which time he averaged 23 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

“Paul is a tremendous talent and an elite two-way player. We feel fortunate for the five years we spent with him,” the Clippers releases in a statement. “Over that span, he went to three All-Star Games, made the most 3-pointers in franchise history and helped lead the team to a place it had never been. His performances in Games 5 and 6 against Utah in 2021 won’t be forgotten by anyone associated with the Clippers.

“We traded a lot to pair Paul and Kawhi [Leonard], and in exchange, we had five seasons of contention. Even though we fell short of our ultimate objective, we appreciate the chances we had with Paul.”

Sources disclosed on Sunday that in addition to George, Philadelphia has bolstered its roster with signings, including shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two-year, $16.3 million deal and agreements with veteran guard Eric Gordon and center Andre Drummond.

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Stephen A. Smith Throws Shade At Kahwi Leonard Straight To His Clippers Teammate Paul George’s Face

Paul George took Josh Hart’s place as the fifth cast member on the pregame and noticeably shortened halftime show when he joined the NBA Countdown team for Games 3 and 4. Because the Dallas Mavericks eliminated George and the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, George is available. George averaged 19.5 points while playing in all six of the series games. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard played in just two games in the series. It was the third straight postseason where Leonard missed the end of the Clippers postseason with injury. Stephen A. Smith made a point of referencing this on NBA Countdown, saying, “Nobody on the planet knows what it’s like to play without a star than Paul George.”

On set, this sparked a variety of emotions. Malika Andrews and George chuckled right away, while Bob Myers and Michael Wilbon seemed a little taken aback. George hurriedly warned, “Don’t do that,” and Bob Myers chimed in and told Goerge, “Don’t react to that.” Nevertheless, Smith must not have heard him since, half an hour later, he cracked the identical joke. The team was less accommodating at that time.

Read More: Stephen A Smith Calls Out Clippers Star Kawhi Leonard: “He’s The Worst Superstar In Sports”

Stephen A. Smith Throws Shade At Kahwi Leonard In Front Of His Clippers Teammate Paul George

Although everyone was smiling and the talk was lighthearted, Smith made a highly impolitic act that would have put George in a difficult situation with his co-star Kawhi. In addition, George may need to look for housing when he pursues a max contract extension with the Clippers this summer. Since his season-long absence in the 2017–18 NBA season, Kawhi has been among the most injury-prone superstars in the league. Leonard’s health issues on the Clippers persisted, even after he elevated load management to the top of NBA discussions by helping Kawhi lead the Toronto Raptors to an NBA Championship.

Even if George hasn’t exactly been a shining example of availability, Leonard is a player who is more prone to injuries than George. Even so, this isn’t the first time Stephen A. has disparaged Kawhi. A couple of weeks ago, Stephen A Smith called out Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. “He’s The Worst Superstar In Sports,” Smith said of Kawhi. Overall, Stephen A. has a serious bone to pick with Leonard.

Read More: Yvette Nicole Brown Is Sick Of Stephen A. Smith After Will Smith Debacle

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Paul George To Join Stephen A. Smith And Crew As Analyst For NBA Finals

Paul George, a nine-time NBA All-Star, will be a guest analyst on ESPN’s NBA Countdown broadcasts during NBA Finals Games 3 and 4, the network announced Monday. George, who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers right now, will join the i crew live from Dallas, Texas’ American Airlines Center. George will be on set with Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame columnist Michael Wilbon, senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, commentators Stephen A. Smith and two-time NBA Executive of the Year Bob Myers, and host of NBA Countdown Malika Andrews.

NBA Countdown will take place on Wednesday, June 12, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and on Friday, June 14, from 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, ahead of the NBA Finals Games 3 and 4. On ABC, both games start at 8:30 p.m. You can get NBA Countdown on the ESPN App as well. The 34-year-old, nine-time All-Star George appears to be preparing for a future in the media. He debuted his own program, “Podcast P with Paul George,” last year, and it has generated a lot of amazing viral moments.

Read More: Paul George Rejects Contract Offers From Clippers

Paul George Joins ESPN As Analyst For NBA Finals

Many are currently more intrigued by George’s free-agent status, even if it will be great to watch him hone his analyst skills on the biggest stage of the game. If George decides to leave the Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers have been strongly connected to him; also, a new East playoff team has lately entered the race for him. Even while it will be amazing to witness George polish his analyst abilities on the largest stage of the game, many are currently more intrigued by his free-agent status. Additionally, the Philadelphia 76ers have a close relationship with George, and a new East playoff team has recently entered the race for him should he decide to leave the Clippers.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been arguably the most prominent team looking to acquire Paul George. However, don’t discount the Orlando Magic, Philly’s adversary in the Eastern Conference. The up-and-coming team is reportedly keeping an eye on some of the biggest stars in the NBA who may be available for free this summer. George is presumably one of them. Overall, Paul George is in demand. As an analyst and a superstar player.

Read More: Paul George Trolls PJ Washington After Lighting Up The Mavs 

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Paul George Rejects Contract Offers From Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers and the Mavs seemingly go up against each other in the playoffs every season. The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard and were thoroughly outplayed by the Mavericks in the final two games. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic both put on clinics and led the team over the Clippers. The Clippers have a roster of aging stars. They want to keep James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard together, but that’s going to mean someone taking a pay cut. Reportedly, Paul George isn’t going to be the guy who rejected the Clippers’ initial contract offers.

This offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers hope to keep both Paul George and James Harden, but they have thus far attempted to do it at a reduced cost. Kawhi Leonard has already inked a three-year, $152.4 million discounted deal with the Clippers. Their ballooned salary is getting out of hand. If Pual Goegre and James Harden both take less than they command in the market, the Clips might be competitive next season. The keyword is “might.” Paul George doesn’t want anything less than the max.

Read More: Paul George Trolls PJ Washington After Lighting Up The Mavs 

Paul George Will Become Free Agent For Max Deal

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, commented on the Clippers star’s future. He said Monday, “We’d like to be able to bring back and retain Paul and James.” He continued, “We’re hopeful we can, but also understand and respect the fact that they’re free agents. Paul has a decision with his option. James will be an unrestricted free agent, so our intent is to bring him back, but also realize that they’re elite players and they’ll have choices.” George has made it known that he wants his contract extended. If the Clippers had offered him a max deal, he probably would have signed it by now. It appears that they haven’t so far. It’s a strange move for an organization with not a lot of leverage.

Retaining Paul George is the most important objective for the Clippers. With Paul George, they have one of the best wings in the league. Without him, they go from being an old but competitive team to an old team that’s not competing. It’s vital they stay competitive also because their new arena is opening up in LA soon. Overall, the situation in LA is up in the air, and The Clippers have a lot to take care of this offseason.

Read More: Paul George Net Worth 2023: What Is The NBA Star Worth?

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Paul George Trolls PJ Washington After Lighting Up The Mavs 

The Clippers and the Mavericks seemingly always match up in the playoffs. The teams have faced off in the playoffs 3 out of the past 5 seasons. Playing against each other so much creates a level of familiarity between the teams. That familiarity can also create a touch of animosity. The playoffs are intense, and emotions run high. Additionally, the intensity and emotions are even more heightened when you have been going up against a certain team for so long. In game 3, Russell Westbrook and PJ Washington were ejected after an altercation after Westbrook’s hard foul on Luka Doncic. Washington starred down the Clippers bench, taunting them with his arms crossed. Paul George made sure to remember that for game 3. 

Game 4 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers was a spectacle. The Clippers dominated the first quarter, outscoring the Mavs 39-16. The Mavericks, however, were not to be outdone, gradually closing the gap and turning it into a nail-biting contest in the fourth. This was playoff basketball at its finest. Leading the charge was Paul George, a man on a mission, who lit up the court with five 3-pointers in the first half. After his 5th 3 of the first half, Paul George hit PJ Washington with the same taunt he had given the Clippers bench. 

Read More: Laurence Fishburne Shines In New Trailer For New Series On Donald Sterling

Paul George Stares Down PJ Washington

Paul George was on one in game 4. The Clippers dominated the first half, and George went off, hitting five threes. The tough guy act PJ Washington hit the Clippers bench with was obviously something they did not take lightly. Paul George decided to remind Washington while simultaneously lighting up the Mavs on the scoreboard. The series has been very entertaining, and it looks like it could go seven games. 

The Mavs and the Clippers are now tied 2-2. Despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers were able to tie the series up. The status of their star is uncertain, but James Harden and Paul George have seriously stepped up. Luka Doncic has not been the same MVP he has been all season this series and will look to get his game back on track. Overall, Clippers Mavericks might be the best first-round series of the playoffs. 

Read More: NBA Announces MVP Finalists: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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NBA 2K24 Unveils Fourth Player Ratings Update for 2024 All-Star Season

NBA 2K24 Unveils Fourth Player Ratings Update for 2024 All-Star Season

In an exciting development for basketball gaming enthusiasts, 2K has revealed the fourth NBA 2K24 player ratings update to kick off the new year. Timed with the ongoing selection process for the 2024 All-Star Game roster, this update highlights notable increases for key players such as Luka Dončić, Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, and more.

Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks sees a noteworthy bump to 97 OVR (+1), positioning himself strongly for a potential fifth All-Star selection. His stellar season averages of 33.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game attest to his elite performance.

Kawhi Leonard, the dynamic forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, earns a boost to 92 OVR (+1). His impactful contributions have propelled the Clippers to a top-four seed, averaging 21 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game over the last two weeks.

Additional updates feature Trae Young (90 OVR, +1), Jalen Brunson (90 OVR, +1), Paul George (89 OVR, +1), and more. For the complete list of NBA 2K24 player rating updates, enthusiasts can explore the details here.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors

Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors

The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled a bit since the arrival of James Harden. But Paul George’s game winner at the end of Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors could be the push they need.

Paul George hit a step-back 3 with 8.9 seconds left to life the Clippers and cap off a 22-point combeack win. PG13 finished the game with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four threes. Harden added 21 points and Kawhi 20.

You can see the moment below.

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Five Best Paul George Shoes

In the realm of basketball footwear, Paul George’s signature line stands out for its fusion of style and performance. This article explores the top five shoes from the impressive Paul George collection. From early releases to the latest iterations, each shoe showcases George’s impact on sneaker culture. Join us on a journey through innovation and design as we uncover the standout shoes that exemplify George’s influence in the basketball shoe landscape.

Nike PG 4 “USA”

Nike PG 4 "USA"
Image via Stadium Goods

The Nike PG 4 “USA” comes in red, white, and blue colors, like the American flag. These sneakers are comfy and good for basketball. They’re part of Paul George’s line and look cool on the court. With these colors, they stand out and show style. If you like patriotic colors and great shoes for playing hoops, these are a top choice.

Nike PG 5 “Bred”

Nike PG 5
Image via Stadium Goods

The Nike PG 5 “Bred” features a mix of black and red colors. These sneakers are part of Paul George’s line and are great for basketball. With these colors, they look sharp and stylish on the court. They’re comfy to wear and have a design that stands out. Overall, if you like bold colors and sneakers that feel good while playing, these are a top pick for both style and game performance.

Nike PG 4 Gatorade Gamer Exclusive “NBA 2K20”

NIKE PG 4 Gatorade Gamer Exclusive "NBA 2K20"
Image via Stadium Goods

The Nike PG 4 Gatorade Gamer Exclusive “NBA 2K20” is a special shoe made for a game called NBA 2K20. These sneakers have cool colors and special details, like a video game. They’re comfy for playing basketball and are part of Paul George’s line. These shoes were just for a special group who played the game, so not many people got them. If you love video games and stylish sneakers, these are a must-cop.

Nike PG 6 “What The?”

NIKE PG 6 "What The?"
Image via Stadium Goods

The Nike PG 6 “What The?” mixes lots of different colors on a mostly white base. These sneakers are special and part of Paul George’s collection. They’re comfy and good for playing basketball. The mix of colors makes them stand out and look unique. Overall, these sneakers are colorful, feel nice on your feet during a game, and are a great choice for style and comfort.

Nike PG 6 “Celestine Blue Peach Cream”

Nike PG 6
Image via Stadium Goods

The Nike PG 6 “Celestine Blue Peach Cream” brings soft blue and peachy colors. These sneakers are part of Paul George’s line and feel comfy on your feet. They look smooth and work great for basketball games. The mix of colors makes them stand out, giving off a calm and stylish vibe. Overall, if you like cool colors and comfy shoes for playing, these are a top choice for both looks and game-time comfort.

Let us know which of these sneakers is your favorite, in the comments section below.

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Mase Reveals Paul George Confronted Him Over Cam’Ron’s Podcast Comments

Mase and Cam’ron are no strangers to discussing fellow celebrities on their podcast It Is What It Is. That often includes sports coverage as they’re both big sports fans, though sometimes it can get them into hot water. Earlier this year they found themselves receiving some backlash over a segment they did about concerning allegations made against Dwight Howard. In the clip, they seem to primarily take issue with Howard’s sexuality more so than the actual concerning accusations he’s facing.

They’ve also been known to talk about Paul George in particular quite a bit in the past. The two hosts recently appeared on the Stephen A. Smith Show where they talked about how that made an actual encounter with George a bit awkward. Cam explains that he brought up Paul George after Hornets rookie Brandon Miller called him the GOAT. “I went crazy and said I don’t know what this kid is smokin,’ I don’t know where he’s been but he’s out his damn mind sayin’ Paul George is the GOAT,” he explained. But Cam wasn’t the one who had to account for his comments. Check out the full podcast episode below.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Joins Cam’ron On “It Is What It Is”

Mase Dealing With Reactions To Cam’Ron’s Comments

Cam explained that Ma$e eventually ran into Paul George in person. “Fast-forward three weeks later, Paul George sees Ma$e at Summer League and says, ‘Why I can’t be the GOAT? What’s goin’ on, Ma$e? Tell Cam why I can’t be the GOAT?’” Ma$e explains that he didn’t know how to handle the situation and ended up just calling Cam. When he picked up Ma$e said “Yo Cam, Paul George and them got me surrounded right now — why you say he can’t be the GOAT?”

Earlier this month the pair once again drew attention for something they said on their podcast. In the clip, they said they would choose DMX over Tupac in a best rapper debate, which many fans disagreed with. What do you think of Ma$e’s story about being confronted by Paul George over Cam’Ron’s comments? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Cam’Ron And Mase Claim ESPN Is Stealing Their Swag

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