LOS ANGELES – Paul George has been motivated and fueled by “all the noise” surrounding him throughout the season and winning an All-Star spot is another “milestone” in his recovery season, he said.
The LA Clippers guard was named one of the All-Star reserves selected Tuesday in the Western Conference, joining teammate Kawhi Leonard, who was previously voted as a starter in the Western Conference pool. .
“With all the noise, everything that happens, you find motivation in it,” George said of all the criticism he’s heard since the Clippers collapse in the second round last season. “You dig deep and you’ll be amazed at what comes out of it. Honestly, you were just using everything as motivation, feeding all of that into this year.
“[All-Star] it’s a good milestone, the beginning of how my season is going. But definitely [not] where I want it to end. So I have a lot more work to do. “
George, who scored his first five 3-point shots before finishing Tuesday with 30 points in the Clippers’ 135-116 win over the Washington Wizards, will make his seventh All-Star appearance.
George, however, joined a chorus of NBA stars who have expressed concern over an All-Star Game being held this year amid a pandemic.
“I’m not a fan of everything that happens,” George said. “I think he ‘s smart [to not hold one]. … I understand we have an amazing league; I do not discredit it. But I don’t think, just in the middle of a pandemic, it’s something that should be taken. “
George also said he was fined this season for a health and safety protocol precaution.
“Above all, [for] for personal reasons, I was fined for spending time with a teammate or having a teammate finished, and yet we’re having this all-star game, “George explained.” So again, I have personal reasons why I disagree with the game [being held]. “
George said he didn’t want to delve into the fine, but said he will play in the All-Star Game on March 7 in Atlanta.
George entered Tuesday night with an average of 24.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists to achieve a shooting rate of more than 51.1%, including 47.1% behind the arc of 3 points.
The shooting guard was not an All-Star last season after failing to play in the Clippers ’first 11 games as he was put into action after off-season shoulder surgeries. Last postseason, George endured a shot drop in the first round of the playoffs, before going 16-16 from the field and scoring 10 points in a Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets as the Clippers advanced the series 3-1. the second round.
George has said he has heard more “breasts” this season from opponents who “only lived in the past.” He has been motivated to prove his doubters wrong.
“He’s always been an All Star, in my eyes,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “He’s one of the best two-game players in our league; you know he’s been that for a while.”
“He deserves it. And the kind of year he has, you know, this year just shows the work done over the summer to get back to that point.”