Doc Rivers Reveals Clippers Bench Didn’t Accept Paul George Last Season

The LA Clippers parted ways with coach Doc Rivers following last season’s playoff debacle. While it was amicable then, comments from Paul George about not being used right have made it ugly. Rivers has now responded to these comments once again and also revealed something that was unconfirmed all this time.

During his conversation with ESPN, Rivers talked about how chemistry is important for any team to win.

He said, “I think (chemistry’s) the key. You always go to Game 7 or just watch the Finals in the NBA and you see teams with great chemistry. They’re over themselves and are not worried about who’s scoring or who’s playing minutes. They’re trying to win. When you get teams like that, you win basketball games.”

Doc Rivers reveals what the Clippers bench felt about Paul George

Then, while comparing it to his Clippers team, he talked about how it was the opposite. And most importantly, he gave a clear hint about how the team felt about Paul George.

He said, “From last year’s team, it didn’t have that. You can visibly see it. We had a starting group and a second group. The guys that were there the year before honestly didn’t accept at least one of the new guys. I thought they accepted Kawhi. If you don’t accept everybody then you don’t win.”

The Athletic had reported before that the original players were unhappy because of the superstar treatment that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George received. Rivers’ comments indicate that Leonard was still accepted, but clearly, George wasn’t.

Neither did the team have the mentality to win, nor did they have the chemistry to win. This is why the Clippers failed last season, and their rivals Lakers, who had unmatchable chemistry on the floor, went on to win the title.

Will George be accepted into the team now?

Despite his unimpressive performance in the playoffs, the Clippers rewarded him with a huge extension. He signed a four-year extension for a whopping $190 million. That is over $45 million a year. For that kind of money, the Clippers front office will hope the team has better chemistry this time.

Unless he gets traded, George is going to be here for a long time, and if players don’t accept him, they are preventing themselves from winning.

ALSO READ  – Former NBA Champion Blames Clippers’ Paul George For Disappearing in ‘Big Moments’