After getting into a heated exchange with Phoenix Suns’ guard Chris Paul—and later Devin Booker—during Sunday’s game, Clippers’ forward Paul George says that he’s been hearing a lot of “chirping” lately from those that are stuck on last season.
According to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, George says that he was talking to the referee before the altercation with Paul ensued.
“I was talking to the ref, [Chris Paul] jumped in and it escalated from there,” George said, per ESPN. “There was never any altercation, there was always peace when I am on the floor but for whatever reason, there’s a lot of chirping and people just living in the past.”
“Last year was last year. I’m in a new situation; I am in a different mindset. Any of that hate stuff, you got to ask them. I don’t know where that’s coming from.”
Booker, on the other hand, says that what happened between him and George was “nothing.” The two of them received technical fouls shortly after the exchange.
George has been dealing with a lot of criticism since his underwhelming performance against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals last season. The Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead, while George shot 4-for-16, and finished with only 10 points.
“I had a tough year last year,” George says. “People think it’s sweet, man, people think it’s sweet because I was down. I didn’t hear none of this my 10 years in the league but last year, people living on that last year. And I got to answer that. And I am ready to compete. I’m back.“
This season, PG says he’s focused on letting his game do all the talking. After putting in work during the offseason, George had quite the season-opener debut against the Lakers. On Sunday, he dropped 39 points and nailed seven three-pointers in a 112-107 win against the Suns.
“I don’t talk, I play my game,” George says. “For whatever reason, it’s dudes talking. Like, never heard people talking [before], and it’s never been directed towards me but for some reason it’s a lot of mouth. And it’s fine. I got to play up to that.
“I’ll go through the fire. It’s fine. As long as we come out on top, we win and I am helping my team win. That’s all that matters. Save the rest, they can do what they want. I’m locked in and it’s more so about me being at peace and at ease.”
Considering the fact that he’s currently averaging 25.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game to start off the season, George definitely looks like a new and improved version of himself.
