Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George is widely regarded as one of the league's most respected players. On the most recent episode of The Pat Bev Podcast, current Milwaukee Bucks player Patrick Beverley aired a long-standing grievance about playing alongside George.
Beverley specifically criticized George's passing ability, marking a departure from his usual silence on such matters.
When asked by his co-host about teammates who consistently deliver good passes to shooters, Beverley promptly responded with “James Harden, not even close.”
However, he later explained the challenges of catching passes from George.
Paul George's passes
“But Paul George is the worst,” stressed Beverley.
“The basketballs they have lines on them right, usually guys like to line the ball up. They like to put, you know how you're taught put fingertip on black on the line and you just release it. With James Harden, you never had to fix the laces. They came already fixed. The only thing you had to do is just shoot it,” he continued.
When asked about Harden's passing ability, Beverley admitted he wasn't quite sure how Harden managed to deliver such accurate passes. However, he quickly transitioned back to discussing his frustrations with George's passes.
“But with Paul George, the throw that mother******…you don't know how fast it is,” said the former Clipper while doing passing gestures with his hands.
Beverley described the passes as deceptive, appearing slow but arriving quickly and spinning in a different direction, making it difficult to catch while defended.
PG's assist numbers
Paul George has consistently posted solid assist numbers throughout his career, particularly since joining the Los Angeles Clippers. However, playmaking has not been his primary focus. He is widely recognized for being one of the top two-way wings in the NBA.
In the 2020-21 season, The Clippers forward recorded a career-high average of 5.2 assists per game. He then exceeded this mark in the following season, averaging 5.7 assists per game. This uptick occurred while the team navigated without a primary point guard and with Leonard out due to a torn ACL.
Despite George's passing statistics showing improvement during those seasons due to necessity, his passing ability isn't usually the primary consideration when opponents create defensive schemes for him.
Beverley, who has always been a good defender, is primarily a point guard throughout his career. But, he isn't known for his playmaking abilities either. His highest single-season assist average was 4.6 during the 2021-22 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Uncertain future for Patrick Beverley and Paul George
George and Beverley were teammates for a span of two seasons while playing for the Clippers, from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021. Looking ahead to the 2024 season, there is a possibility that both players may find themselves on different teams.
The Los Angeles Clippers aim to retain James Harden on the roster for the upcoming season, but they are also focused on re-signing free agent Paul George.
It appears likely that George will remain on the roster for the foreseeable future, especially once Kawhi Leonard's extension is finalized. However, tensions and reluctance to extend a potential maximum contract for a fourth year have prompted George to contemplate free agency.
Although it's uncertain which team George will ultimately join, it's probable that he will sign a contract offering three more max years or potentially more.
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