Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

It was a good plan.

Good friends and Central Division rivals Reggie Jackson and Paul George agreed to split the cost of renting a place just south of Los Angeles during the summer.

Sensible, since George is a California guy and Jackson conducts his off-season workout regimen on the West Coast.

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George found a place west of L.A., but Jackson thought it was a bit too extravagant.

Jackson was surprised by the next development.

“I thought we were going to get a place around Marina Del Rey down south (of L.A.),” the Pistons point guard said Tuesday at the team’s practice facility. “He hit me up and was like, ‘Yeah, let’s get this spot.’

“I was like, ‘Nah, we ain’t renting this.’

“Next thing I know, he is, ‘This is where we staying. I’m not renting that; I bought it.’

“I was like, ‘I’m not paying rent on that one,’ but he said, ‘Nah, man, you good.’

“He was like, 'just come stay with me.’ ”

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George, a Pacers star, spent a good portion of the summer helping Team USA win a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, but Jackson refused to be a freeloader.

Jackson footed the bill for a private chef when George was in town.

“He’s ready to have his retirement spot, so that was the investment he made,” Jackson said. “That’s my man, so I ain’t going to let him eat all the costs.”

■Briefly: Rookie power forward Henry Ellenson will appear today at Flint Doyle/Ryder Elementary for the ribbon cutting of the newly renovated library as part of the Pistons’ Reading Room Makeover contest.

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Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.

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