Paul George has harsh words on Clippers experience

Paul George grew up supporting the Clippers in a household full of Lakers fans in Palmdale, California. When he joined the Clippers in 2019, the All-Star forward spoke extensively about his lifelong dream of wanting to play for the Lakers' crosstown rivals in a city that bleeds Purple and Gold.

George, alongside Kawhi Leonard, was also determined to erase the Clippers' "stepchild" perception and build their own lane in the NBA and Southern California sports landscape.

Five years later, George is no longer a Clipper, and it's becoming increasingly clear that he endured a reality check during his stint with the franchise.

"Initially, coming back to L.A. — that was home — but it's not the same love [compared to Lakers]," George said on "Podcast P" this week. "When I was in L.A., they were like, 'Man, you should have been a Laker.' That's all I was hearing. It wasn't like, 'Welcome to the Clippers.'"

George said every day as a Clipper in Los Angeles was a reminder that he was playing for the "B Team."

The Clippers and George went their separate ways after they endured a falling out in contract talks. George revealed the Clippers first offered him a two-year, $60 million extension he felt was "kind of disrespectful." He ultimately signed with the Sixers on a four-year, $211 million deal.