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There is very little doubt that new Los Angeles Clippers recruit Paul George has got to be in the conversation when talking about the most clutch players in the game today. He has so many clutch plays throughout his decorated nine-year career in the NBA, that it was quite a challenge to sift through them to select a Top 5. Nonetheless, we've come up with a pretty conclusive list below for everybody's viewing pleasure. Without further adieu, here are Paul George's five most clutch moments in his career thus far.
at Sacramento Kings (Jan 14, 2014)
With the Kings up four points and with less than 20 seconds on the clock, George was not quite ready to call this a night. Coming off the inbound pass, he took the ball back from teammate David West to sink a contested three-pointer. George got fouled on his attempt, and by making the bonus free throw, PG sent the game into overtime thanks to this amazing four-point play. The Indiana Pacers would go on to win after the extra period, with George finishing with 31 points.
at Miami Heat (May 22, 2013 – Eastern Conference Finals Game 1)
George has had many memorable playoff moments during his time with the Indiana Pacers, and there is no doubt that his amazing three-pointer at the end of regulation in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat way back in 2013 was one of them.
Similar to the play against the Kings above, George was also the inbounder with just 11.9 seconds remaining. David West received the ball and provided a hand-off pick yet again, only this time, it was on the opposite side of the court. George actually lost the ball, but was able to quickly recover to drain a big triple right in front of LeBron James, sending the game to OT.
at Utah Jazz (Dec 5, 2015)
George seems to have his most clutch performances when on the road. One of his best ones was when he played on the Utah Jazz's home floor back in December of 2015. While the Pacers would end up losing the ballgame, George absolutely torched the Jazz defense with a career-high 48-point performance. For good measure, the six-time All-Star also recorded eight three-pointers, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals in this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH0KqYhSW6c
vs Utah Jazz (Feb 22, 2019)
It looks as though Paul George loves playing against the Utah Jazz. Just last season, in what turned out to be his final campaign for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the former 10th overall pick produced an astounding display against the Jazz where he would finish with 45 points (on 17-of-31 shooting), five three-pointers, nine rebounds, seven assists, and a steal.
With the game in the balance, George took over as he led the Thunder to an unforgettable 148-147 double overtime victory against Utah. The icing on the cake was PG's game-winning floater over two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert.
at Brooklyn Nets (Dec 5, 2018)
One of, if not the best performance by George in a Thunder uniform would have to be his epic 25-point fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets in December of last season. He led a tremendous rally for OKC, who came from 23 points down to secure an amazing come-from-behind victory against Brooklyn.
George would stuff the stat sheet in this one, logging 47 points (on 15-of-27 from the floor), six three-pointers, 15 rebounds, four assists, and a blocked shot. This is PG at his best.
As mentioned previously, the fact that four out of the five top performances above were all on the road, speaks volumes of George's ability to thrive in the clutch. For most guys, it's easier to be at your best when playing in your home floor, with the home crowd cheering you on. However, the opposite seems to be the case for George. He appears to be fueled by the jeers and taunts of the opposing crowd, as he puts up some of the most memorable performances of his career while on the road. The former Most Improved Player winner is certainly one that thrives under pressure, and this is definitely another testament to how clutch he truly is.
Now with the Clippers, George will surely have more than a few clutch performances ahead. However, at the end of the day, the most important thing is the coveted NBA title. Fortunately for him, he has now teamed up with two-time NBA champion in Kawhi Leonard, as their dynamic duo looks to be the favorites to go all the way in the upcoming season. For George, this might finally be the year that he reaches the pinnacle of the sport, and thereby cementing his legacy as one of the greats.
