“Wanted to Destroy Them”: Paul George Recalls Fierce Kawhi Leonard Rivalry as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards Serve Striking Reminder

A new thrilling rivalry is brewing between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Led by the brilliance of Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both teams are battling it out for the first position in the Western Conference. The two emerging rivals have faced each other three times this season, with the Thunder securing victories in two games. However, the most recent encounter saw the Timberwolves emerge victorious.

Watching Shai and Edwards battle it out on the court, Paul George reminisced about his rivalries with the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler in the 2010s. In the latest episode of Podcast P with Paul George, the Clippers star shed some light on his duels with Kawhi, Butler, and Gordon Hayward.

PG shared, “I always compared and tried to match-up with the guys that was in the same level as far as years in the league and same positions. So, I was looking at Kawhi, Gordon, Jimmy (Butler). I would literally watch or check the stats and that was my driving force going into that game… Offensively, I was trying to destroy them.”

Paul George’s career with the Indiana Pacers started slowly, but he soon established himself as the leader of a title-contending Pacers team. He had all the tools, offensively and defensively, to succeed at the highest level. During the 2013-14 season, George became one of the best players in the NBA. Averaging 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, Paul George became an All-Star. While Paul George has had rivalries with many players throughout his 14-year career, none of them hold the title of PG’s ultimate nemesis, because that distinction only belongs to LeBron James.

Paul George’s fierce rivalry with LeBron James

Pacers rivalry with the Heat was one of the most fierce and entertaining rivalries in the 2010s. Led by PG and LeBron, the two teams constantly faced each other in the latter stages of the playoffs. However, LeBron always came out on top in those matchups. King James has been a significant obstacle in preventing Paul George from securing an NBA championship.

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From 2012 to 2014, the Pacers faced LeBron’s Heat three times in the postseason, but the PG-led Pacers couldn’t overcome the Miami Heat. LeBron continued to haunt PG even after King James switched teams to the Cavaliers. In the 2017 playoffs, LeBron-led Cavaliers swept the Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Since then, the two haven’t met in the postseason. However, with LeBron and PG playing for the Lakers and the Clippers, respectively, another playoff thriller is on the cards.

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