“What did I say that was wrong?” 

This was the question Paul George had for the Clipper Nation. The veteran forward received a mixed reception in his return to LA. But then again, it was expected, I suppose. After all, there was a championship the Clippers had yet to get, and it was one that he had promised to help get for them. However, there was a remark from the 34-year-old that he now believes did not warrant the kind of response he’s been getting.

Yes, it’s his ‘B-Team’ comment. We’ll get to that in a moment. But while clarifying his reason, PG directed a slight dig at Steve Ballmer and his brand-new Intuit Dome. Well, full disclosure: his reply was for those fans who took offense to his comment. However, it pretty much shed light on the Clippers’ owner’s failure to fill those 18,000 seats.

“They [the fans] proved me right. They didn’t pack out and they aren’t packing out Intuit Dome. That’s your home. That’s your team. Go f—–g support them! Go be there every night, go show support like, ‘This is who our players are. This is who our team is.,” Paul George demandingly said in the latest episode of his Podcast P.

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spared no expense in building the Clippers a cutting-edge arena in Inglewood, hoping it would help establish a unique identity for the team. This nearly $2 billion venue can accommodate 18,000 fans in total comfort—but this season, they’re averaging just 16,827 fans per game, dropping them to 25th in league attendance!

Compare that to last year, when they ranked 10th with nearly 19,000 fans on average. Maybe it’s the new arena, Paul George’s departure, or Kawhi Leonard’s continued absence, but fans just aren’t showing up like they used to for Ballmer’s team.

Whatever the reason, the Clippers are finding it harder than ever to ignite the passion of their fanbase. Hence, like PG’s words subtly conveyed, the fingers will naturally be pointed at the owner and the management for the failure to attract more customers. But we do have to go back to the starting point. What exactly was the ‘B-Team’ remark?

Paul George reacted to the special signs “The Wall” had for him

For those not too familiar with Intuit Dome, “The Wall” is a 51-row section behind one of the baskets, filled to the brim with diehard Clippers fans. Inspired by soccer-style fan sections, it represents a key part of Steve Ballmer’s vision to build a true identity and community around the LA team in their new exclusive home. Now that we have the introductions in order, what really went down?

The fans in the section had a special message for Paul George. A few of them held up signs in bold letters that read, “PG Think before you speak.” And when one of the hosts of Podcast P With Paul George asked the man what he thought of it, the first sentence out of his mouth was the question above.

“What did I say that was wrong? I did not call the Clippers ‘The B Team’. I said it felt like the B Team just because everywhere you go, people in LA say, ‘You should be a Laker.’ … I wasn’t comparing them and saying like they were underneath the Lakers. It was just how LA interprets or LA treats players that are in LA. … They think there’s not another team there!” George said incredulously.

While his “B-Team” comment stirred up mixed feelings, he seemed genuinely frustrated with the constant comparisons to the Lakers. George’s message to Clippers fans was simple: show up, bring the energy, and make Intuit Dome the home of the Clippers. Whether it resonates with Clipper Nation remains to be seen. But for now, PG-13’s standing by his words and challenging fans to back the team.