One of the biggest headlines to come out of the Los Angeles Clippers camp last offseason was how seemingly unhappy some of the members of the team were with how their other teammates had some sort of ‘preferential treatment‘ during the 2019-20 NBA season. Unsurprisingly, it was first-year team members Paul George and Kawhi Leonard who were both being singled out as the two members of the Clippers who apparently got what they wanted in terms of leniency and partiality.
After Tuesday's opening night win against the Los Angeles Lakers, George was again put on the spotlight to clarify whether or not this rumor was true. When asked by NBA Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley about the rumors about the apparent ‘preferential treatment' they got all of last season, the six-time All-Star responded honestly:
“As you know Charles, the dudes that put in the work, that built themselves up to be where they're at, it's a reason they get to that level. They know what they need and they know what makes them play at a high level.” George said (via ClutchPoints). “Whoever that offends,” he shrugged, “We don't have that issue right now in this locker room.”
For starters, it does seem that George is suggesting that there was indeed some truth to the rumor and that whatever treatment they did get was nothing less than deserved. George was seemingly on the defensive saying that the treatment they got, whether preferential or not, was justified by the fact that they needed it to ‘play at a high level'.
The 30-year old also mentioned that there aren't any issues with this in their current locker room further implying that whoever had that issue is probably donning a different jersey this season.
The drama inside the Clippers camp isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Hopefully, like on Tuesday, they get to rack up more Ws to help them silence the critics.