INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Paul George returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday night, making his first appearance since leaving the Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers last summer. The atmosphere was charged as fans expressed their discontent by booing George when he was introduced at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Clippers, which was not at full capacity. Despite the jeers, George found an early rhythm, responding with consecutive three-pointers that helped to level the score early in the game.
Before the match, Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue commented on George’s reception, suggesting fans could boo him at this game but appreciate him later. This game marked just George’s second this season as he previously dealt with a left knee injury. He had contributed 15 points in his first game back, which ended in a 118-116 defeat against Phoenix on Monday.
“He provides us with additional defensive versatility,” noted Sixers coach Nick Nurse. “Standing at 6-9, he can effectively cover various defensive assignments and adds some size to our rotations. He certainly brings stability to our offense.”
As the first quarter concluded, the Clippers aired a tribute video for George on a large halo screen, eliciting polite applause from the audience as he graciously waved in acknowledgment. Lue praised George’s capabilities, highlighting his extensive experience and understanding of various defensive strategies.
During his five seasons with the Clippers, George, a native of Palmdale, played a significant role in leading the team to their inaugural Western Conference Finals appearance. However, the Clippers faced early playoff exits in the subsequent two years. After opting out of his $48 million player option with the Clippers, George became a free agent and subsequently signed with Philadelphia to team up with Joel Embiid. Yet this season, he has yet to play due to a knee injury and is also currently serving a three-game suspension for an altercation with a Philadelphia sports columnist.
The Clippers have struggled at the start of the season, posting a 3-4 record that falls short of expectations aimed at pulling in fans to their new venue. Meanwhile, a fan displayed a sign imploring, “Paul G, Please Come Back.” The Clippers are also missing Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to participate this season due to ongoing recovery from knee surgery. With George’s absence, the team has lost Russell Westbrook as part of their once-prominent roster, which has now diminished to Leonard and James Harden.