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“Paul George and the Clippers are the enemy”: LeBron James jokingly takes jabs at Clippers star while picking him to join Team LeBron

Samir Mehdi
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“Paul George and the Clippers are the enemy”: LeBron James jokingly takes jabs at Clippers star while picking him to join Team LeBron

LeBron James says that Paul George and the Clippers are the ‘enemy’ as he proceeds to pick PG with the 10th pick in the All-Star Draft. 

Ever since LeBron James made the move to join the Los Angeles Lakers and Paul George teamed up with Kawhi Leonard on the Clippers, the ‘Battle for LA’ narrative has become one of the most significant rivalries in the NBA. Each time these two teams would matchup in the regular season, it would make for one of the most exhilarating games of the entire season. 

The tension and drama between the two superteams was built up throughout the entirety of last season, only to have no payoff come Playoff time. What was expected to be a brutal 7-game series between the two LA behemoths turned out to be a WCF matchup between Denver and the Lakers. 

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Though they were able to escape the Clippers en route to a title last season, LeBron James understands that Paul George and co are still their biggest threat out West to repeat. 

LeBron James jokes about Paul George and the Clippers being his and the Lakers’ ‘enemies’

With the All-Star Draft taking place earlier today, LeBron James was pitted against Kevin Durant to make his picks for the 2021 ASG. After having picked the starters, both team captains began making their picks for their reserves. 

It should be noted that Kevin Durant snagged Kawhi Leonard early on in the Draft so that was one less Clipper LeBron had to pick. With the 10th pick in the draft, LeBron James chose Paul George. Before making the selection, however, James jokingly said, “The only time I’ll root for this guy or this team, because we’re enemies.” 

Also Read: “No slander to Utah, we never picked Karl Malone or John Stockton on games”: LeBron James hilariously explains why Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were picked last in the All-Star draft

He then brushed it off by saying, “Nah I’m just making fun of it.” Paul George and the 4x champ shared a storied history that dates back to nearly 8 years ago. Both PG and the ‘King’ had matched up against one another in the 2013 and 2014 ECF back when they were on the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat, respectively. 

Many have hilariously taken to social media to claim that Bron actually did Paul George a solid by picking him as Team Durant is being coached by Doc Rivers. A reunion between PG and Rivers would call for some awkward conversations at the least, considering their blemished past. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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