Paul George (#13) of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles in the NBA preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, October 9, 2022. /CFP
Los Angeles Clippers star forward Paul George told reporters on October 9 that he is "totally fine" being the team's second option after Kawhi Leonard.
The Clippers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-117 in the preseason game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on October 9. George played almost 24 minutes to score 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Clippers. Leonard, who hasn't appeared in any game since June 30, 2021, played about 17 minutes against the Timberwolves to get eight points and two assists.
Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks in the NBA preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, October 9, 2022. /CFP
"Yeah, look at the [Miami Heat] wing-wing DWade [Dwyane Wade] and LeBron [James]," George said after the game. "I think it just comes down to – listen, Kawhi is the No. 1. And I am totally fine with that. I think I try to complement him with being able to take the load off of him."
"Everybody says, 'Kawhi [and] you are 1 and 1, [or] 1A, 1B.' I'll publicly say, I'm the 2. Kawhi's the 1, I'm the 2. So that part we nipped in the bud. Like there's no ego when it comes to that," George added.
The 2022-23 season will be the fourth campaign since George and Leonard joined hands in summer 2019. Back then, they were seen as the star duo that would dominate the NBA for years to come. However, the best they did in past three seasons was reach the Western Conference Finals in 2021. It was a breakthrough for the Clippers, but far from enough for the players or team owner Steve Ballmer, who paid a lot to assemble such a competitive squad.
Kawhi Leonard (#2) of the Los Angeles Clippers penetrates in the NBA preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, October 9, 2022. /CFP
Injuries definitely held the Clippers back. Leonard missed the whole 2021-22 season due to the surgery to repair a partial ACL in his right knee. George has never played more than 54 regular season games in any of the past three campaigns because of injuries as well. Nonetheless, when they blew a 3-1 lead during the postseason series against the Denver Nuggets in 2020, both were healthy, yet still had an epically terrible performance in Game 7.
The Clippers signed former All-Star point guard John Wall during the offseason to fix one of their biggest shortcomings. The team are still considered a legit title contender in the West. Leonard and George are confident in themselves too.
Paul George (L) and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers look on from the bench during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, March 3, 2022. /CFP
"We're both unselfish," Leonard said. "My 12th year, his 13th year ... we've been through this before, so I feel like just having those years under our belt and, obviously, like I said, we have a genuine relationship, and it just carries over [into how we lead]."
"I believe in my talent and what I can do," George said. "And I believe on any night of what I am capable of. But I feel my job is to make everybody better. That is what I try to do when I am on the floor, just make the game easy for everybody, whether it is creating or just being aggressive ... and making reads off of that."