blue-collar organization. We got the nightlife, we got the L.A.
scene—everything about it—but this group is hardworking
and just gritty. That’s how I started my career off, in Indi-
ana. That’s how I made it in this league. So I feel at home.”
The 29-year-old six-time All-Star was standing on the
lac logo at center court inside the team facility, having
just completed a noncontact workout on his first day back
from Hawaii, preparing his surgically repaired shoulders
for the season. George was a surprise addition on July 5, an
offshoot of the late-night free agency coup that brought the
game’s top free agent, Leonard, to the Clippers. The two
stars’ commitment to join the most-hapless franchise in pro
sports jostled the NBA chessboard like the 7.1 earthquake
that tossed the city that same evening.That’s a constant battle. Those are the type of fans we have.”
After the previous day’s practice at the University of
Hawaii–Manoa, coach Doc Rivers said, “When you run into
a Clipper fan who’s been one for 20 years, can you imagine
what he’s seen?” Rivers chuckled in his trademark rasp,
perhaps thinking of the Danny Manning era that never
was, or of the franchise’s swing-and-miss on 1998 No. 1
draft pick Michael Olowokandi, or the shame of the Donald
Sterling tapes. “We’ve never retired a player’s jersey—and
this franchise is almost 50 years old.
“I just feel like we should own our past, own our history.
Look at this group of players,” he said as Beverley hoisted
postpractice threes, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell
stretched, new forward Paul George rapped with 81-year-
old Hall of Famer [and Clips’ consultant] Jerry West, and
Kawhi Leonard took it all in like a Sphinx. “They’re a bunch
of survivors, a bunch of loyalists who at some point had to
bet on themselves.”
“That’s exactly it,” George says four days later. “This is a
40
SPORT S ILL US TR ATED- OC T OBER 21–28, 2019
ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN OCTOBER,
Clippers guard Patrick Beverley sat lounging in Waikiki,
pontificating near the midday surf. “To live in L.A. and root for
the Clippers, you have to be a different type of person,” he said.
“We haven’t won anything, we don’t have banners, we don’t
have our own arena.” Just then, backcourt-mate Landry Shamet
strolled by and invited Beverley to join the surfing lesson he’d
scheduled. Beverley took a rain check.NBA
PREVIEWL.A. CLAW
Leonard (right) along
with George will give
a boost to a Clippers
defense that ranked 19th
in the league last year.