Star forward Paul George made headlines when he agreed to a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The deal came as a surprise to many, as George decided to decline his $48.7 million option and enter free agency.
Months later, a tweet recently went viral claiming that PG called his former teammate Kawhi Leonard before leaving the team and that Kawhi just breathed heavily on the phone and hung up without saying anything.
The viral tweet stated: “Paul George on telling Kawhi he was leaving LA: ‘I called him [Kawhi] to let him know I was leaving Los Angeles, all he did was breathe deeply into the phone for 5 seconds before the call ended.
The tweet was posted from a parody account known for posting controversial takes on hot-button issues around the NBA court. Neither basketball star has confirmed whether or not such a conversation took place.
Conversely, in a recent revelation, NBA star Kawhi Leonard spoke out about his former teammate Paul George’s decision to leave the LA Clippers to join the Philadelphia 76ers. Leonard said George’s departure did not come as a shock to him, citing ongoing discussions and an awareness of the situation throughout last season.
The duo, known for their on-court partnership, had clearly been in communication regarding George’s contract negotiations. Leonard revealed that they were fully aware of the circumstances that could either solidify their partnership with the Clippers or lead to a different outcome.
Therefore, Leonard mentioned that George’s trade to the Sixers was “no surprise” given their previous conversations and understanding of the situation.
Despite Clippers coach Ty Lue’s efforts to keep George on the team, the star player opted to pursue a four-year, $212 million contract with Philadelphia as a free agent. Lue expressed disappointment at losing such a vital member of the team and noted the challenge of filling the void left by George’s departure.
In a podcast, George also revealed details about the contract negotiations with the Clippers, including the initial offers and subsequent discussions. The narrative surrounding the extension took several turns, ultimately culminating in George’s decision to join the Sixers.
