Clippers star Paul George opens up about impact of mother's stroke

Mark Medina | USA TODAY

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LOS ANGELES — Often, Paul George felt the temptation to complain about his circumstances.

He could have felt depressed when he fractured his right leg ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Championships. He could have felt frustrated with the criticism he fielded for both his departures with the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He could have felt anxious for missing the first 11 games this season while recovering from offseason surgery on both of his shoulders.

George nursed all of those emotions. But after seeing his mother, Paulette, overcome a stroke that she had when he was six years old, George has often kept his adversities in perspective.

"I saw it first hand with my mom. Honestly, it built me up as a man," George said. "It built character in me. It built toughness in me. Just to see how hard she worked to get to where she is at now is remarkable and amazing."

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Nearly 23 years later, the 29-year-old George still struggles to process his pain after seeing her mother face challenges with her movement, speech and energy. So for the third consecutive year, George hosted a Christmas dinner at a Dave & Buster’s in Hollywood on Wednesday for 10 local families that also have been affected by stroke. Following dinner, George and his parents shared stories with the families on the challenges they have faced. After giving away his jersey and shoes, George also played arcade games with some of the children.

The dinner was closed off for most media outlets that attended the event. George’s parents and his foundation also were not available for comment. So George spoke on behalf of many on what this event meant to them.

"It’s been awesome for them, they’ve been enjoying it," George said. "I know how it is. I know as a kid how much it affected me. For these kids, they are having fun and having a break from reality. A lot of them said this is one of the best Christmases they had already."

George might think the same thing.

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Following stints in Indiana (2010-17) and Oklahoma City (2017-19), the Thunder accommodated George’s trade request by sending him to the Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a handful of future draft picks. The implications went beyond the Clippers becoming championship contenders after already signing Kawhi Leonard, who had agreed to the leave the Toronto Raptors as a free agent so long as the Clippers acquired George. He also returned closer to home after growing up in Palmdale, about an hour outside of Los Angeles.

What did George’s mother say?

"She loved it," George said. "She wasn’t the biggest fan of me going back home due to family and everything that comes with being back home. But now that I’m here, she’s all for it and she loves it. I get to spend more time with my mom."

George’s parents attended the Clippers’ win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. They went to George’s event on Wednesday. And it would not be surprising if they have tickets when the Clippers (21-8) host the Houston Rockets (18-9) on Thursday at Staples Center. Four days after the Clippers face the Lakers on Christmas Day, George will return to Palmdale to unveil refurbished courts at Domenic Massari Park. The City of Palmdale has considered Dec. 29 to be "Paul George Day," which will include a festival, a clinic and shooting contests.

Amid George’s busy schedule and quest to accelerate the Clippers’ on-court chemistry, he often reminds himself of his painful past to maintain perspective. On Wednesday, George received another reminder.

"My mom is kind of the catalyst for it," George said of the event. "She’s been the strength of it. It’s great to have something that she can call hers and be the face of. She’s very proud of it, and I’m very proud to be able to help for it."

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