Some Clippers players reportedly questioned why Paul George got the same star treatment as Kawhi Leonard

• The LA Clippers reportedly gave Kawhi Leonard and Paul George preferential treatment, which bothered teammates.
• George's privileges reportedly irked teammates more, as he doesn't own a lofty playoff resumé like Leonard.
• George had a poor postseason showing and his motivational speeches to teammates reportedly fell flat.

After landing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the 2019 offseason, the LA Clippers immediately gave both players preferential treatment, some of which bothered their teammates, according to The Athletic's Johan Buva.

However, according to Buva, some Clippers players especially resented the star treatment George enjoyed, as they believed he hadn't earned it the way Leonard had.

From Buva:

"Teammates had a level of acceptance of Leonard's preferential treatment, as his status as a two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP — the then-reigning Finals MVP, at that — was indisputable.

"But George's treatment was more of an issue within the locker room, league sources said. George, while a perennial All-Star and All-NBA candidate, didn't carry the same cachet with his teammates. There was a sentiment among certain teammates of, 'What have you accomplished in the playoffs?' multiple league sources said."

According to Buva, George and Leonard were the only players on the team to have their own trainers and security team, and they had influence over travel and practice schedules and playing time. Leonard also lived in San Diego and was late to some events.

The Clippers never quite jelled on the court, due to both injuries, load management, and the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2019-20 season. They ultimately fell in the second round of the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported at the time that George attempted to give a motivational speech to the locker room, encouraging players to run it back and try to win a championship next season. According to Charania, Geroge's speech was met with eye-rolls and indifference.

Not helping matters was George's postseason performance. George shot just 39% from the field in the postseason, including a 10-point, 4-of-16 shooting performance in a Game 7 loss to the Nuggets. George had admitted to dealing with stress and anxiety while in the Disney bubble.

The Clippers promoted Tyronn Lue to head coach this offseason, hoping his ability to manage superstars, as he did with LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will help guide the Clippers to the championship in 2021.

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