Paul George's father believes that the LA Clippers betrayed his son during this offseason

Contract negotiations in professional sports tend to get contentious, and rarely does one go without leaving some hurt feelings. This past offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers made a bold move by not re-signing All-Star wingman Paul George to a brand-new contract, opting to let him leave and sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Clippers' decision left a bad taste in the mouth of PG's father, Paul George Sr., who revealed on his son's podcast how hurt he was by the team's actions. In an emotional interview, George Sr. expressed his disappointment and frustration with how the Clippers handled their son's contract situation.

PG's father felt like he, too, was betrayed

PG was born and raised in Palmdale, California, so playing for the Clippers was the next best thing outside of playing for the more glamorous LA Lakers. The nine-time All-Star arrived on the Clippers in 2019 in a fruitful offseason for the franchise, as they also recruited two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, forming an elite duo that was expected to bring a championship to Los Angeles.

Five years later, the Clippers' furthest advance in the playoffs was in the Western Conference Finals in 2021, where they were defeated by the Phoenix Suns. Despite the Clippers' shortcomings, including last season's exit in the first round, PG had wanted to return to the team. However, negotiations between PG's camp and the Clippers' brass broke down as the two disagreed on a contract extension. As a result, PG declined his player option, became a free agent, and went to the East.

"It was hurting. I felt like they stabbed us in the back because I thought Paul did a lot for the team. As far as the fanbase, the fans were there. He was there. He gave them 110%, but what he asked wasn't a lot. But they saw something different," Paul George Sr. shared .

He fully supported his son

Seeing how conflicted his son was over the situation put Paul George Sr. in dire straits. He could see how much his son loved playing in LA and how hard he had worked to make the team a contender. Despite the disappointment, Paul George Sr. fully supported his son's decision to leave.

"I didn't want him just to take anything. So, his whole thing is that he stands up for his beliefs. And so he felt that that was a bunch of bull that they came at him with. And I wasn't going to sugarcoat it either. Yeah, I'm behind you 100%. If you've got to leave, we're going to leave," PG Sr. added.

PG will begin a new chapter in his storied career and try to win his first NBA title with former MVP Joel Embiid and budding star Tyrese Maxey by his side.

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