It is a statement that has the merit of clarity. Paul George did not hesitate to define the hierarchy at the Clippers by putting Kawhi Leonard at the top. He is therefore the lieutenant of the double NBA champion and assumes it.
“Kawhi is number one and that’s totally fine with me”he assures at ESPN. “I try to be complementary, to relieve him. We talk about Kawhi and I as an equal duo, an 1A and 1B, but I say it publicly: I am number 2. So there is no debate, no ego in this matter . »
The former Spurs and Raptors will therefore have as second a former third in the votes for the MVP trophy (in 2019), seven times All-Star and six times All-NBA, who can make the difference at any time.
“My job is to make other people better. That’s what I try to do, creating or being aggressive. We will go far if everyone knows their role and knows what they can bring”
“That being said, I believe in my talent and in what I can do”continues the one who played in Indiana and Oklahoma City before. “My job is to make other people better. That’s what I try to do, creating or being aggressive. We will go far if everyone knows their role and knows what they can bring. »
The two stars enter their fourth season in Los Angeles, without having shown the extent of the potential of their duo. The first season was hit by the pandemic and Paul George’s shoulder problems, during the second Kawhi Leonard was injured during the playoffs and the latter did not play a single minute in the third year…
Even if he is back from injury and remains discreet (he has opened up more recently), the MVP of the 2014 and 2019 Finals has a much larger CV than his teammate and title experience as well.
“We are both altruists”says “The Klaw”. “I am in my twelfth season, he in his thirteenth. We’ve been there before, so having these seasons in our legs, in addition to our relationship, has an impact on the way we lead the team. »
| Paul George | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2010-11 | IND | 61 | 21 | 45.3 | 29.7 | 76.2 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 7.8 |
| 2011-12 | IND | 66 | 30 | 44.0 | 38.5 | 80.2 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 12.1 |
| 2012-13 | IND | 79 | 38 | 41.9 | 36.2 | 80.7 | 1.1 | 6.5 | 7.6 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 17.4 |
| 2013-14 | IND | 80 | 36 | 42.4 | 36.4 | 86.4 | 0.8 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| 2014-15 | IND | 6 | 15 | 36.7 | 40.9 | 72.7 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 8.8 |
| 2015-16 | IND | 81 | 35 | 41.8 | 37.2 | 86.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 23.1 |
| 2016-17 | IND | 75 | 36 | 46.2 | 39.4 | 89.8 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 23.7 |
| 2017-18 | OKAY | 79 | 37 | 43.0 | 40.1 | 82.2 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 22.0 |
| 2018-19 | OKAY | 77 | 37 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 83.9 | 1.4 | 6.8 | 8.2 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 28.0 |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 48 | 30 | 43.9 | 41.2 | 87.6 | 0.5 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 54 | 34 | 46.7 | 41.1 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 23.3 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 31 | 35 | 42.1 | 35.4 | 85.8 | 0.4 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 5.7 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 24.3 |
| Total | 737 | 34 | 43.6 | 38.2 | 84.8 | 0.9 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 20.4 | |
