Los Angeles Clippers swingman Paul George had been on record about struggling to find confidence while playing in the NBA bubble in Orlando.
But he does not seem to be lacking in that department at present.
George was a recent guest on the “All The Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, saying he is “locked in” and noting he returned to one of his old trainers.
"I'm back with my trainer that I had my MVP season. I'm locked in, as locked in as you can be… I'm on motherf**ker's asses this year."
Paul George has a message for doubters this season.
(via All The Smoke, h/t @Clippers24seven)pic.twitter.com/0XdL6ts5C4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 10, 2020
The six-time All-Star should find even more incentive to prove doubters wrong given the polarizing response to his new contract extension.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported George and the Clippers agreed to terms on an extension worth up to $226 million over the next five years.
Los Angeles honored George's recent wishes to possibly retire with the team. But there were also those quick to point to George's poor playoff performance as a reason why the contract could come back to haunt the Clippers.
LMFAO PANDEMIC P certified bankrobber
— 𝓴𝓿𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓭𝓸𝓷𝓪#77 (@ValeKunDo) December 10, 2020
— tristan 😈 (@tristan__ttv) December 10, 2020
Paul George? He’s not going anywhere, anytime soon. Franchise guy. pic.twitter.com/R4BRcjhW8X
— Drew Casper (@dcasper498) December 10, 2020
But for all the noise about George's past statements and most recent playoff failure, he is still one of the best wings in basketball.
This is a guy just one year removed from a season during which he averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while leading the NBA with 2.2 steals per game. Given George put up those numbers with Russell Westbrook, it would seem he is every bit as capable of doing so with Kawhi Leonard.
Perhaps the coaching change will help. George had said former Clippers head coach Doc Rivers wanted to use him as a shooter who ran around screens, and that the style failed to maximize his talents.
But Tyronn Lue might allow George to stay on the ball more and take some of the pressure off of Leonard to be a constant playmaker.
Regardless, PG-13 is hungry for a bounce-back season.
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