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Paul George Reveals Conversation With Kawhi Leonard After Devastating Injury

Paul George led the LA Clippers after Kawhi Leonard went down

Joey Linn

Paul George Reveals Conversation With Kawhi Leonard After Devastating Injury
Paul George Reveals Conversation With Kawhi Leonard After Devastating Injury /
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When Kawhi Leonard went down with an ACL tear in the 2021 Western Conference Semi-Finals, Paul George led the LA Clippers to their first Western Conference Finals appearance with consecutive wins over the Utah Jazz. During an episode of Podcast P, which is presented by Wave Sports and Entertainment, George revealed a conversation he had with Leonard following that devastating injury.

"My favorite win was getting past Utah when Kawhi went down," George said. "Getting over the hump, and getting to the Western Conference Finals. At that point, they ruled us out... [Kawhi] went down, we did have a conversation. And I more so was like, I didn't want him to feel like he had to rush back. I simply told him, like, 'Yo, err on the side of taking care of you.' Basically like, 'We got you.' He was on board. He knew that he had to focus on his rehab. It was a conversation. It was definitely a conversation to let him know we got this sh-t."

Following that conversation with Leonard, George went for 37/16/5 in Game 5, and 28/9/7 in Game 6. It was an incredible showing of leadership from George, who put the Clippers on his back in route to their first Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. While LA ultimately fell to the Phoenix Suns, it was a historic run for their franchise.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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