Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George evidently saw his phone blow up with messages after Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller called him his G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) before the draft last year.
“Almost as soon as Miller made his pre-draft declaration about George, the veteran’s phone began buzzing with messages about what Miller had said,” ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk wrote. “George reached out to Miller following the viral comments.
“‘People were making fun of him, about me being his GOAT,’ George, who brought Miller on his podcast and now texts advice to the rookie, said.
‘“And I just had to tell him, ‘Man, be you. Embrace how you feel.’ It’s about who inspires you. I know what he meant by it. Obviously, I’m not the greatest of all time to ever play this game.’”
Miller made his viral comments back in June of 2023.
“I actually don’t think LeBron is the GOAT of basketball. My GOAT of basketball is Paul George.” -Brandon Miller on GOAT debate 👀
(via @ScoopB)
pic.twitter.com/y6JzsS3oB7— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2023
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Miller has a similar game to that of George, as he’s a wing that can score the ball at a high rate from all three levels. This season, Miller is averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from beyond the arc for Charlotte.
While George seemingly has it in mind that he likely isn’t the greatest basketball player of all time, it’s nice to see that he’s taken Miller under his wing to help him in his rookie season – even though the two players aren’t teammates.
Miller isn’t the only person that has those feelings about George as a player, as Kiyan Anthony (the son of former NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony) is also a big fan of the Clippers star.
Kiyan Anthony says Paul George is the best player ever
(🎥 @ComplexSports) pic.twitter.com/j4VM0jCEZH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 27, 2024
George appreciates those who have shown him love.
“It’s nice to know that you have people on your side,” George told ESPN. “Opposed to people that want to mock the career that I’ve had.
“You just never know what extent that my outreach will be. You’re talking about kids around the world, about Kiyan, whose father is a Hall of Famer. It’s different, the kids and demographics that I’ve reached…like, damn, I didn’t know I had that kind of effect.”
This season, George is hoping to lead the Clippers to an NBA title, which would give him one accolade that he has yet to achieve in his career. Los Angeles currently is in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference with a 44-27 record.
George, who was named an All-Star for the ninth time in his career this season, is averaging 22.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
