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On ESPN’s broadcast of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Mavericks and Celtics, Paul George made an appearance alongside Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers, Mallika Andrews, and Michael Wilbon as a special guest.
With George on the panel, Stephen A. publicly attacked Kawhi Leonard’s unavailability. Stephen A. Smith: “Paul George is the only player on the planet who truly understands what it’s like to play without a star. No one is aware.” George Paul: “Don’t do that.” Bob Myers: “Avoid responding to it.
The conversation had a jovial tone with everyone laughing, but this was a pretty unprofessional move by Smith who could have landed George in a tough spot with his co-star Kawhi. George is also angling for a max contract extension from the Clippers this summer, with a possibility that he has to find a new home.
Kawhi has been one of the most injury-prone superstars in the NBA since his season-long absence in the 2017-18 season. After bringing load management to the forefront of NBA debates as the strategy allowed Kawhi to bring an NBA Championship to the Toronto Raptors, Leonard continued struggling with health on the Clippers.
After a healthy 2019-20 season ended with one of the worst chokes in NBA Playoff history, Leonard would tear his ACL in the 2021 Playoffs and handicap the franchise as they made their first-ever Conference Finals appearance. He missed the entire 2021-22 season, with the team missing the Playoffs.
Leonard would also miss time in the 2023 Playoffs after getting hurt in the first round, dooming the Clippers against the Suns. The same happened in the 2024 Playoffs against the Mavericks, with Leonard missing Game 1 and forcing himself to play in Games 2 and 3, where he was a non-factor before being sidelined for the remainder of the first-round exit.
While George hasn’t been a beacon of availability himself, Leonard trumps even him as an injury-prone player. This isn’t even the first time Stephen A. has taken shots at Kawhi
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