Paul George on Clippers fans booing him: 'It is stupid'

Before an announced crowd of 15,627, George made 7 of 9 shots and had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, but his old team routed the Philadelphia 76ers 110-98. George said he appreciated the video tribute and called the Clippers franchise "first class." He said his return drew a fair and split reaction, but he did not understand or care for the boos after helping the Clippers reach their only Western Conference finals appearance in 2021. "It is stupid," George said when asked if he was surprised to hear jeers after playing five seasons in L.A. "I mean, I was a free agent, you know what I mean? It wasn't something that I demanded a trade or went against the team here. I was a free agent. The team presented something that was team friendly, and I did what was best for me in that situation.

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Sirius XM NBA SiriusXMNBA The Starting Lineup with & is LIVE! Steve Kerr Booed in Boston Awful Announcing Article Paul George Returns to LA Listen Live: sxm.app.link/nbaradiolive Call the Show: 855-NBA-JUMP (855-622-5867) pic.x.com/dqD093xzzx – 7:04 AM Ohm Youngmisuk NotoriousOHM Asked if he saw some of the signs in The Wall referencing things he said on his podcast, Paul George cracked that at least they're subscribers to his pod. Asked what he thought of Intuit, he called it the best arena in the league but was surprised this game wasn't packed. – 1:14 AM Ben Golliver BenGolliver Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George on getting booed by LA Clippers fans at Intuit Dome: "It's stupid. I was a free agent. It wasn't something where I demanded a trade or went against the team here." pic.x.com/sH1RG8umdI – 1:13 AM Ohm Youngmisuk NotoriousOHM Paul George thought he received a split reaction — some cheers, and boos. Asked what he thought about being booed after five seasons here, PG replied it was "stupid" to hear boos because he was a free agent that was presented a "team-friendly" offer to stay but took better offer – 1:12 AM Ben Golliver BenGolliver Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George on his return to face LA Clippers at Intuit Dome: "I wish it would have been a little more packed out. I didn't think it was quite packed for this to be the Clippers' very own." pic.x.com/LlY0wxKvIS – 1:11 AM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Clippers 110, 76ers 98 LAC is 4-4 and end homestand with a two-game win streak Clippers will visit Paul George on last Sunday of month For now, it's on to Sacramento Stay tuned for postgame yeah pic.x.com/hz3TzwcJcV – 12:37 AM Ball Don't Lie Balldontlie Paul George in his return to e has yet to secure a W as a Sixer pic.x.com/n3P8fEJgjX – 12:36 AM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Tyronn Lue commences garbage time with 3:22 left to get Jordan Miller in the game Intuit Dome exits are populating with Inglewood Clippers up 106-87 Paul George line: 18 points, 7/9 FGs 7 rebounds 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 fouls 3 steals, 1 block 2/3 3s 23:36 the saga continues – 12:30 AM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Norman Powell pump and go corner 3 and he let the bench that Paul George is sitting on here about it. Norm 26, PG 18 with 5:30 left tonight. – 12:25 AM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Reggie Jackson gets Paul George out, crowd cheers, and that might be it for PG tonight with 76ers down 19 mid 4th quarter – 12:23 AM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Nick Nurse won a championship in 2019 Since then, he has coached against the Clippers and keeps facing former players: – Kawhi – Serge Ibaka – Norm – Harden (sort of) Now he's on the other side, coaching Paul George. Asked him about that this evening pic.x.com/XGD1vA5W4l – 9:49 PM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Starters for tonight in LA 76ers: Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond Clippers: James Harden, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Derrick Jones Jr., Ivica Zubac – 9:32 PM Derek Bodner DerekBodnerNBA We'll be going live at 9:30 to preview Sixers vs Clippers. — Paul George's return to LA — Key matchups / slowing down Harden — Injury reports And more. Let's go talk about basketball. youtube.com/live/lp_9XCdGk... pic.x.com/rXHW0ZfN4p – 9:16 PM Adam Aaronson SixersAdam Asked how Clippers fans should treat Paul George tonight, LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue jokes: "Boo him tonight, and love him afterwards" – 8:23 PM Tony Jones Tjonesonthenba Ty Lue on Paul George and his return to face the clippers: We had some great years together. He helped us get to a conference finals – 8:16 PM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Eric Gordon was Chris Paul's teammate with Rockets for CP return to LA Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond were Blake Griffin's teammates with Pistons for BG return to LA Gordon, Jackson, Drummond are all Paul George's teammates with 76ers now – 4:55 PM Law Murray LawMurrayTheNU Since Clippers relocated to Los Angeles County in 1984 5 players have made multiple All-Star games as Clippers, spent 5+ season with the team, and departed the franchise: – Danny Manning – Elton Brand – Chris Paul – Blake Griffin – Paul George all interesting returns lol... – 4:43 PM Ohm Youngmisuk NotoriousOHM Paul George said his relationship with Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank was awesome and why he looks back at his Clippers tenure positively. But he also said that's why the ending was "shocking." PG understands the business decision made by both sides: espn.com/nba/story/_/id... – 4:09 PM

More on this storyline

George said on Wednesday morning that he did not hold a grudge against the Clippers organization for not re-signing him. He cited his "awesome" relationship with team owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. "I think it got kind of misconstrued or [the] narrative kind of wasn't written correctly with the relationship with Lawrence [Frank], the relationship with Steve Ballmer," George said before the Sixers had their morning shootaround at UCLA. "I mean, they were awesome the whole time I was here . "Kind of the reason why it was such a shocking decision how it played out at the end. But they were awesome. My time here, I think that was kind of refreshing to be alongside and have a partnership like that with a front office. And so I think that was probably the highlight of the whole [time with the Clippers]. Just how great they were in my tenure here." -via ESPN / November 7, 2024 Paul George said he remains close with his old Clippers co-star, Kawhi Leonard, and harbors no "ill will" towards the team. As George sees it, everything was "great" about his five years here — except the ending, when the Los Angeles-area native signed a four-year, $212 million deal with the Sixers. "The narrative wasn't written correctly, with the relationship with Lawrence, the relationship with Steve Ballmer," George told reporters at the team's pregame shoot-around session inside UCLA's Wooden Center. "I mean, they were awesome the whole time I was here. It's kind of the reason why it was such a shocking decision, how it played out at the end (in free agency). But they were awesome. -via New York Times / November 7, 2024 Law Murray: One of Paul George's concerns while he was still with the Clippers last season was being a "Glue Guy" after Batum and Covington were traded Batum said today that PG wanted Nico to stay in Philly — For now, PG has to remain a #GlueGuy in 76ers lineup pic.x.com/JHSWXF25qO -via Twitter / November 6, 2024