Nearly three years have passed since Paul George last donned a Los Angeles Clippers jersey, yet it seems his previous experiences still linger in the background.
Montrezl Harrell, a former NBA player and teammate of George, discussed their relationship in an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. When asked about their time during the NBA bubble in 2020, Harrell didn’t hold back.
“I don’t really make comments about him. We don’t see eye-to-eye, and frankly, I just don’t care,” Harrell said. “I mentioned that in my tribute interview too, about the fallout we had in that bubble.”
He expressed his belief that the Clippers chose not to resign him partly due to their heated exchange after the team squandered a 3-1 lead against the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs.
During Game 5 of that series, the two were caught in a fierce argument following a timeout. They reportedly clashed over George not owning up to a turnover that occurred in Game 2.
Chris Haynes from Yahoo noted that Harrell confronted George, shouting, “You’re always right. Nobody can tell you nothing,” as they exchanged harsh words.
After the game, Kawhi Leonard remarked on the team’s need for improved chemistry, which aligns with Harrell’s feelings. He pointed out the lack of cohesion among teammates but also acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their dynamics.
“What kind of chemistry could we have when we had to halt playing for a month? Folks were stuck in their houses,” Harrell remarked. “We couldn’t even hit the gym together. It’s no surprise that we lost our chemistry after everything we went through.”
He added that, personally, that period was really challenging for him as he felt he had “zero rhythm.”
“Mentally, I was far from there,” Harrell shared. “I lost my grandmother, which obviously pushed basketball to the back of my mind. Even though the coaching staff and GM were eager for me to return, I wanted to make the right choice for my team while dealing with everything else.”
Harrell also noted he wasn’t alone in facing difficulties during that time, mentioning that both Patrick Beverly and Lou Williams, a former three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, also lost significant mentors in their lives.
Following that period, Harrell played for four NBA seasons before suffering an ACL tear during a summer workout in 2023.
Meanwhile, George remained with the Clippers until the 2023-2024 NBA season and is now starting a new chapter with the Boston Celtics after two years with the Philadelphia 76ers.
