"I mean it's stupid": Paul George dishes it out to Clippers fans' hostile reception
Paul George was not a happy man as he dished it back to LA Clippers fans after their hostile reception to their former star. The wing was met with a mixed welcome when he suited up for the clash against his old side at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday.
If his welcome video getting mild boos wasn't enough, George was also subject to jeers each time he touched the ball. Speaking to the media later on, George called the whole incident 'stupid'. He further added:
"I mean it’s stupid. I was a free agent. It wasn’t something that I demanded a trade or went against the team... There were cheers. I appreciate them. Those were the ones I played hard for. The boos, I didn’t get it."
George was one of the massive trades earlier this summer as he headlined a star-studded free agent list along with Klay Thompson, Lauri Markkanen and DeMar DeRozan. Despite interest from the likes of the Orlando Magic and the Golden State Warriors, the 3-and-D specialist chose to ink a four-year, $212 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before his trade, George was expected to be the face of the Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard to bring the title home to LA. But since the duo's linkup in 2019, a championship has eluded them, while both stars grappled with injuries extensively.
Paul George was reportedly called out by a Clippers fan for missing a crucial three-pointer
One of the talking points from the 110-98 loss was one of the fans heckling Paul George for missing a bucket. The forward missed a three-pointer that bounced off the backboard, and one of the fans was quick to allegedly call out the star.
"Oh yeah! He's back," the fan yelled.
George ended his evening with 18 points and seven rebounds as the 76ers lost another game. Apart from the boos, the bigger issue for the F/G and Philly is their dismal start to the season. The 76ers have won just one of their seven games and are tied with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Utah Jazz to have the worst record in the league. They are placed 15th in the East.
Paul George and the 76ers take on the LA Lakers next, following which they head home for a three-game stand. They have another challenging slate ahead as they take on the Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers when they head back to Philly.