Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Leonard, George want to make history for Clippers
LOS ANGELES >> Kawhi Leonard and Paul George laughed and cheered along with the crowd when the multibillionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clipperswaved his arms, stomped his feet and screamed his new players’ praises in a cracking voice.
“Pretty cool! Pretty cool!” Steve Ballmer shouted with glee.
Leonard and George are already loving the Clippers’ unique vibe, and they see their future together as limitless.
Nearly three weeks after these native Southern California superstars shook up theNBAbymaneuvering to play together in LA, the Clippers’ newdynamic duo finally made its first public appearance Wednesday in a south Los Angeles community center gym.
“I think we’ve got something special,” said Leonard, the twotime NBA Finals MVP. “We can make history here. We’ve got the right team to do it.”
In explaining their decision to team up with the Clippers, Leonard andGeorge bothmentioned the importance of playing near their friends and family. Bothwere eager to joina teamthey grewupwatching intently fromtheir hometowns in the far- flung LA suburbs.
But Leonard and George seemed to be most impressed by this steady, cerebral franchise’s supporting cast and leadership — everyone from complementary players Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams to front- office architect JerryWest and coach Doc Rivers.
West and Ballmer structured their entire franchise specifically to attract elite talent this summer, and Leonard sees the Clippers as fertile ground to grow another champion quickly.
“It’s anopportunity for us to just build our own, you know what I mean?” Leonard said. “Tomake history. They haven’t been to a Finals. They haven’twon a Finals. Thatwas something big and exciting forme.”
While Leonard joined the Clippers as a free agent, George got here through a trade with Oklahoma City. The All- NBA firstteamer described his departure from the Thunder as “a mutual thing between the both of us that the timewasup” inOklahomaCity.
“Iwant to be a part of something special,” George said. “I want to help build something special, and this is surreal to be home and do it for a team that I grew up with, and wanted to be a part of ever since theymissed out onme in the draft. But that’s another story. That wasn’t on Steve’s time, so it’s cool.”
Nuggets announce extension for Murray
DENVER >> The Nuggets signed point guard Jamal Murray to the five- year, $ 170 million extension that the sides agreed to last month. The deal, which runs through the 2024- 25 season, was announced by President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly.
Murray, a 22- year- old native of Kitchener, Ontario, in Canada is coming off his best season in his three years in the NBA.
The seventh overall selection of the 2016 draft out of Kentucky, Murray set career highs in points ( 18.2), assists ( 4.8) and rebounds ( 4.2) while helping theNuggets to 54 wins and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.