Los Angeles – Paul George Put aside all ego and made it clear Kawai Leonard He’s the LA Clippers’ number one choice and he’s the second star in the All-Star Duo pecking order.
As they enter their fourth season with championship hopes, George was asked if there was a past championship wing tandem he and Leonard could use as a potential blueprint.
“Yes, look [Miami Heat] Wing Wing D Wade [Dwyane Wade] When lebron james],” the Clippers said Sunday at Crypto.com Arena after their 119-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. that. I think you’re trying to complement him so that you can lighten his load.
“Everyone says ‘kawaii’ [and] you are one and one [or] 1A, 1B. I say publicly, I’m two. Kawai is 1 and I am 2. As if there was no ego about it. “
This is a pivotal season for Leonard and George, who are aiming for their first trip to the NBA Finals together since teaming up with the Clippers in the summer of 2019.
Explaining how he and George have grown together as leaders and their dynamics as a duo, Leonard noted their “genuine relationship.”
“Neither of us are selfish,” Leonard said. “I’m in my 12th year, he’s in my 13th… We’ve been through so much that I feel like I’ve got those years under our belts. Obviously , like I said, we have a genuine relationship and it just carries over. [into how we lead].”
Since Leonard tore his right ACL in Game 4 of Los Angeles’ second-round playoff series against Utah on June 14, 2021, the Clippers’ season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. It will be the first meaningful match for a person. Up the load, sending the Clippers to the first-ever Western Conference Finals in the postseason without Leonard.
As Leonard missed the 2021-22 season entirely, George played for the Clippers and was sidelined for three months with an elbow injury to his shooting arm. He returned late in the regular season, but missed his second and final play-in for the Clippers due to COVID-19.
Since teaming up in LA, George and Leonard have played together in a total of 104 regular season and postseason games. George has been the Clippers’ top scoring option since June 2021, but now the two share the court.
“I believe in my talent and what I can do,” George said. “And I believe in what I can do on any given night. But I feel my job is to make everyone better. When I’m on the floor, that’s what I try to do. The game.” just make it easy for everyone to create or just be aggressive…and read from it.
“I think we can go a long way if everyone knows their role and what they bring to the table. Everything else is easy. Just roll the ball and chase it.” is.”
George and other teammates say Leonard is happy to be back after spending the past 13-14 months bulking up and strengthening his knee. Clippers coach Tai Lu says his low-key star has opened up even more.
“That means I missed a year without basketball,” Leonard said. “I went down in one of the worst ways in a playoff run, just trying to live in the moment and bring a sense of energy to the team, not taking anything for granted.”
“I’m still young,” added Leonard, 31. ? “
