LAS VEGAS – Jerome Robinson was already dealing with an illness and preparing to call it a night in preparation for the LA Clippers' Summer League opener. He was then hit with the news. Kawhi Leonard had committed to the Clippers and the team was trading for superstar Paul George.

“At first, it was crazy just trying to figure out what was going on,” said Robinson when prompted for his reaction. “I had seen the Kawhi thing, and I had seen the Paul George thing after.. It was just kind of a shock. I didn't know that was coming too. Other than that, I was sick.”

Robinson discussed his immediate disarray, trying to figure out who was traded. All he saw at first was that it was two players.

“That was crazy. I just didn't know. When I first saw it, I just saw Paul George for two players and like whatever amount of picks. So at first, I was like scrambling trying to figure out who got traded because it could've been any of us for Paul George.”

And then he received word that his best friend on the team, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Clippers had refused to include Gilgeous-Alexander in rumored deals for a star throughout the year. However, the opportunity to essentially guarantee both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in a deal for him was simply too much to pass up.

Robinson came into the league with Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2018 NBA Draft. Both were lottery picks, both underwent the interview process together, but both endured very different rookie seasons together. Gilgeous-Alexander spent most of his as a starter for the Clippers while Robinson was in the G-League.

On Sunday night, the Clippers had Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, Landry Shamet, Ivica Zubac, and Rodney McGruder show up to support the team. They also had as surprise guest in Gilgeous-Alexander, who both Beverley as well as Robinson greeted and shared laughs with after the game.

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“Just seeing Shai, just coming in with him, we went through our whole rookie year together,” Robinson reminisced. “He's one of my best friends. It is tough, but it's part of the game. Part of the business. We'll still be in touch and I'm sure I'll see him a lot.

“I hadn't seen him this summer yet. I just told him I was gonna come check him out in Toronto and then I have to hurry up and get back here.”

Gilgeous-Alexander will have a bright future, especially if the Thunder find a way to trade Russell Westbrook. Unfortunately, it just won't be in Los Angeles as many Clippers fans hoped it would be.