George discussed his present predicament with the Clippers and said there is no resentment between the two elite players.
Leonard and George signed with the Clippers in 2019, with Leonard joining the team as a free agent and George joining the team after being acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
When they acquired the two superstars, there were grand expectations for the Clippers to be serious contenders for both the Western Conference and NBA titles.
The Clippers are only trying to make it to the Finals for the first time in team history, but those goals have been muddled during the last three years.
The Clippers seemed to be serious title candidates in the 2020 playoffs but were forced by the bubble. However, they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets due to a meltdown in the conference semifinals.
The Clippers progressed to the Western Conference finals in the 2021 postseason but fell to the Phoenix Suns in six games. Leonard lost that game after tearing his ACL in the old seasons against the Utah Jazz.
Leonard underwent surgery in July 2021 and missed the 2021–2022 season. The Clippers had a poor 42-40 record last season due to his absence and George playing in only 31 regular season games.
The Clippers qualified for the play-in round of the playoffs thanks to that record. this finished the Clippers’ season with back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans; thus, that trip was just temporary.
The Distinction
Given that the success of the squad with Dwyane Wade and James on the same team had quite different outcomes, Heat supporters could object to George’s analogy.
James played with the Heat for four seasons, and each year they won the Eastern Conference. In 2012 and 2013, the Heat won back-to-back NBA titles.
The clock for George and Leonard is starting to tick a little louder after three years of minor to no results. Leonard is 31, and George is 32; thus, their window of chance to claim a title rapidly closes.
The presence of the reigning champion Golden State Warriors will make the Clippers’ attempt to win the championship this season more challenging. If James and the Los Angeles Lakers can maintain their health and successfully incorporate Russell Westbrook into the team’s lineup, they might also be contenders.
George’s perspective can be subject to question. However, heat supporters will probably disregard the comparison until he and Leonard both win two championships.