MY ACCOUNT
Paul George said he turned his “aggression up” after becoming frustrated with a lack of fouls being called, leading to him scoring 40 points as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
George also recorded six rebounds and six assists, with the Clippers edging a tight contest 111-109 at Golden 1 Center.
The recently returned Kawhi Leonard was rested by coach Ty Lue, putting more emphasis on George to step up.
The 32-year-old only managed four points in the first quarter, but after feeling he was being fouled and was then called for a technical foul for his complaints, George used the lit fire to punish the Kings on the scoreboard, scoring a further 36 in the final three quarters.
“I knew I had to be aggressive from the jump already,” George said after the win. “If anything, it [was] just after being angry about that. It definitely turned my aggression up.
“The [Kings] players were holding on to me. I was trying to make my case that, ‘what do you want me to do? Their hands are on me’, and I was trying to get their hands off me.”
George shot 16 from 31 field-goal attempts, and three from 10 from beyond the arc.
Lue explained after the game that his player does not need to feel like he is number two behind Leonard for the Clippers, and George embraced whatever his role needs to be.
“For me, I just pride myself on being that guy that enjoys doing everything,” George said. “I enjoy being that glue guy, and whatever the team or whatever that game needs of me, I’m going to do.
“I just didn’t want nothing going into this year where people are saying this and saying that. If I’m the two, I’m fine being the two.
“But I know what I’m capable of. I know I’m able to be a number one option on nights and a number one option on possessions. I’m very aware and very confident in my ability… I’m going to go out and do my job regardless.”
