Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George made his return to Los Angeles on Wednesday to face the Clippers, his former team from 2019 to 2024. Although the Clippers honored him with a tribute video, the crowd was less welcoming, greeting him with boos throughout the game—a reaction George found frustrating.
“It’s stupid,” George said of the fans’ response. “I was a free agent. I didn’t ask for a trade or go against the team. They offered a team-friendly deal, and I made the best decision for myself. The cheers were from the fans I played for. The boos, I didn’t get.”
George’s position is understandable. The Clippers held his Bird rights and could have matched the four-year, $211 million contract he received from Philadelphia, but they opted not to, leading George to sign with the 76ers instead.
George emphasized that it was ultimately the team’s choice, noting the Clippers hadn’t achieved substantial success during his time there. Even if he had stayed, he doubted they would be top contenders in the Western Conference.
However, Clippers fans got some “revenge” as Los Angeles won 110-98, dropping the 76ers to a tough 1-6 start for the season. In only his second game of the year following a preseason knee injury, George scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, leading all Sixers players in scoring alongside Kelly Oubre.
