Paul George has opened up about his departure from the LA Clippers in an exclusive episode of “Podcast P with Paul George” Presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, shedding light on the challenges and emotions behind his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers.
In a candid discussion, George recounted the negotiation process with the Clippers, expressing initial disappointment and eventual acceptance of the situation.
He revealed that despite his desire to stay in LA, the contract offers didn’t align with his expectations, leading him to explore other opportunities.
“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, and I wanted to work as hard as possible to win one in LA. That was the goal, to be here and be committed to LA,” George said.
“As it played out though, the first initial deal was I thought kind of disrespectful, right and again, in all of this, no hard feelings, no love lost..it’s a business like you said. So the first initial deal was like two years, 60 [million]. So I’m like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Two years, 60? That’s crazy! I’m not signing that.
“Now we’re getting into the negotiating– No, I’m not taking that deal and so they saying this, that we want you and Kawhi here long term, we want y’all to be here, all of this stuff right. Mind you this was before the season started…maybe October-ish when negotiations first started. As we kept going, it was like they would go up inches, inches, inches to where it was like 44-45 [million/year]…but this was a couple months in between before we got it to 40 something.
“So I’m still like, nah, I’m not doing that. Then I hear wind of what they’re going to give Kawhi so I’m like, just give me what Kawhi got. Y’all view us the same. We came here together, we want to finish this shit together. I’ll take what Kawhi got, I was cool with that and we were still taking less. Kawhi took less, so if Kawhi takes less, I’m not going to, it’s not about me being paid more than him. I’m going to take what he got. They didn’t want to do that…
“Let me get to the end of this year and we’ll discuss this again. We’ll pick up conversations again…. Season ends, I finish healthy. 74 games played and had one of my most efficient seasons. So now we going into negotiations and they bring it to 3 years, 150 [million]. Basically what they wanted to give Kawhi.
“So a part of me was still like, alright cool. It sucks that it had to get to this point, that we couldn’t get this figured out a lot sooner but now we’re at the end of the year and it’s 3 years, 150 and I’m like alright, we’re in the ballpark. Now we can have a conversation. Still it still wasn’t about the money because when I went back to have the negotiation at the end of the year, I presented the 3 [years], 150, no trade…I’m taking less, but at least I know I’m here. They didn’t want to do no trade.
“They didn’t want to do that so then I’m like, all right, well then it only makes sense for me to do four years, 212 [million]. At least pay me my money. If y’all going to trade me, ya’ll going to trade me, but at least now I’m not in a situation where I could have got more, had I just gone a free agency, then just take this deal where y’all could ship me. They didn’t want to do that, so now I was like I’m open to entertaining what’s out there.
“I thought I played, played well enough for them to be like, ‘you know what? He’s a part of our future.’ I thought I did that. I thought I earned that. Granted, we didn’t win while I was there, but luck has a lot to do with that. We couldn’t remain healthy as a unit, but I thought I did enough to earn that. They didn’t want to do it. So it was just a stalemate. We came to a stale[mate] and ultimately it was like, alright, that ship has sailed…
“I love Steve [Ballmer], I love Lawrence [Frank], but at that point it didn’t even feel right to come back with that type of energy and be comfortable playing back in LA…Steve is a good dude. I love Steve as an owner, one of the best owners that I played for, but it’s a business I won’t take nobody’s word if they can’t put it in writing, right?”
Reflecting on his free agency experience, George highlighted the significance of the Sixers’ pitch, which resonated deeply with him and his family.
“Shout out Peter Dinwiddie, Daryl Morey, just the whole majority of the Philly front office was there at the house and it was a great meeting and talk about organization,” George said. “They sold the city, sold the team, the organization, the fit, and it was just like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
Regarding his jersey number choice, George shared that wearing #8 for the Sixers is a tribute to his idol Kobe Bryant, symbolizing a new chapter in his career and personal journey.
“My idol ‘The Bean’ Kobe Bryant – my way of idolizing Kobe and something that meant something outside of 24 and 13,” he noted.
He acknowledged the weight of wearing Bryant’s number and expressed a desire to honor the late NBA legend’s legacy through his play.
“For me it’s just, it’s good to have those moments of just like when you look at that jersey – Yeah, this is who I’m putting it on for so I wanted that moment of just being able to hold myself accountable,” George said.
Looking ahead, George expressed excitement about joining the Sixers and the opportunity to compete alongside top-tier talents like Joel Embiid. He reaffirmed his commitment to making an impact on the court and contributing to Philadelphia’s championship aspirations.
“I think it was just the idea of playing with such a presence in Joel [Embiid] and then just a fresh start, new opportunity,” George remarked.
