Clippers' Lue: 'I can't wait to prove everybody wrong' after losing PG
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue is ready to silence the doubters after losing Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
"When you lose a guy of Paul George's stature, instantly people (think), oh, they can't win or they're not going to be competitive," Lue said to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "But that just challenges me even more. OK, people are counting us out or people don't think we're going to be good. That right there just gives me an extra dose of (motivation)."
Lue added: "I can't wait to prove everybody wrong."
George, a three-time All-Star with the Clippers, signed a four-year, $212-million contract with the Sixers after L.A. announced that he wouldn't return to the club next season. The organization was unwilling to give him a fourth year on a prospective deal or a no-trade clause.
Meanwhile, the franchise committed to Lue, reportedly signing him to a five-year extension worth $70 million.
"When you lose an important piece like Paul, you gotta do it by committee," Lue said. "He's a very huge defensive player for us, handling the ball, scoring the basketball, making plays. So losing him is going to be tough."
The Clippers added Derrick Jones Jr., Nic Batum, Kris Dunn, and Kevin Porter Jr. over the summer. They also brought back James Harden on a two-year, $70-million contract.
Over five seasons with the franchise, the star tandem of George and Kawhi Leonard only made it out of the first round on two occasions, peaking with a Western Conference finals appearance in 2021. They were ousted in the first round in 2023 and 2024.
The Clippers will host George and the 76ers at their brand new arena, the Intuit Dome, on Nov. 6.