Paul George greeted with boos in the first road game vs. Clippers

On By Littum

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 6: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome on November 6, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Paul George has no hard feelings about the Clippers. The feeling is apparently not mutual with the team’s fan base. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Paul George returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday for the first time since leaving the Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency last season. He did not receive a warm welcome.

Fans at the Intuit Dome greeted the nine-time All-Star with a bit of a boo when he took the field and continued to do so as the game began.

Wall of Clippers fans at one end of the arena also broke into a “PG sucks” chant.

George didn’t make his debut until Monday after going down with a bone bruise on his left knee in the preseason. He had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds but shot just 1-of-7 from behind the arc in their two-point loss to the Phoenix Suns, but he appeared to be back to full strength after missing their first five games in the season.

Before Wednesday night’s game, George looked back on his time with the organization and their failed contract negotiations — which, he admits now, was a bit of a shock.

His relationship with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and the rest of the team’s front office never soured. Yet he still chose to sign a four-year, $212 million deal with the 76ers in free agency.

“I think it’s been a little bit misunderstood or (the) narrative kind of wasn’t written correctly with the relationship with (President) Lawrence (Frank), the relationship with Steve Ballmer,” George said before the game. via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “I mean, they were great the whole time I was here.

“Kind of the reason it was such a shocking decision was how it turned out in the end. But they were great. My time here, I think it was kind of refreshing to be around and have that kind of partnership with a front office. And then I think that was probably the highlight of it all (the time with the Clippers) How good they were during my tenure here.”

George spent five seasons with the Clippers, who traded for him prior to the 2019-20 campaign. Although George excelled during his time with the organization, the team reached the conference finals just once and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two years.

George and the Clippers initially talked about a three-year extension — which is the same deal Kawhi Leonard got — but talks stalled during the season. After the year in which the two sides sat back, George wanted either a four-year max offer or a no-trade clause.

In the end, the Clippers and George went their separate ways. The deal, which would have kept George in his hometown and playing alongside Leonard and James Harden, fell apart.

“Paul obviously thought it was the right choice for him (to leave). I’m going to miss him,” Ballmer said, via ESPN. “Very good person. Like him a lot except when they play us. Wish him all the best, just not when they play us. And he was a good Clipper.”