Paul George praises Serbian basketball fans, names things he'd like to implement in NBA / News - Basketnews.com

George would like NBA atmospheres to be like those in Europe, especially in Serbia. He was positively struck when he saw the things Partizan and Crvena Zvezda fans do in their matches. George named Patty Mills as surprisingly the dirtiest player he's encountered playing internationally.

Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill - Scanpix Credit AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill - Scanpix

Paul George is one of the best players in his position in the NBA. He also has a close connection to Serbia.

Paul George

Team:Los Angeles ClippersPosition:SFAge:33Height:203 cmWeight:100 kgBirth place:Palmdale, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

In the latest episode of his 'Podcast P with Paul George', the Los Angeles Clippers star was asked what things from international FIBA basketball he would like to implement in the NBA.

His thoughts immediately went to the fans of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.

"I think there are a lot of cool and interesting things going on in the Euro/FIBA leagues. For one, have you seen their game atmospheres? My wife Danijela is obviously Serbian, so she showed me some of the Partizan and Red Star," George began, naming the eternal derby. "She showed me the rivalry game between those two, and they play outside, and it's like smoking, fire, there's theme songs and chants. That sh*t would be dope if that was here in the US! When I was there, they were telling me it's really on some gang-type sh*t - what side you on, what team you rep?"

"There are ramifications behind that if you get caught, from what I was told. It's that deep. That would be dope," the star forward said. "Not the violence and not that part of it, but just how the games are. I remember we played the FIBA game and we were playing other countries, they're waving their flags in the stands and they're singing their countryside songs, and it was just like, 'This is dope!' They really embrace where they're from and their culture. That would be dope if that was part of the game."

George represented Team USA internationally in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, capturing gold while averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for 14 PIR.

Paul George

MIN:34.17PTS:22.33 (54.12%)REB:5.31As:3.66ST:1.57BL:0.46TO:2.07GM:61ProfileNBA2023/2024

Comparing the two types of basketball being played in the NBA and internationally, George admitted that teams outside of the US play a much more team-oriented game.

"Our game is more iso. Over there, they're not letting you hold the ball in iso. There's a lot of ball movement, there's a lot of player movement. They actually run an offense over there," he said. "They are really fundamental in how they player. Whereas over here, it's iso, you can get a shot up in two seconds if you want to. It's really offensive isolation-heavy league that we have."

"If we can have the environments that they play in, that sh*t would be dope," George admitted.

Playing internationally changed the view George had on some NBA players as well, especially those from outside the US. For example, George named Australia's Patty Mills as an example of behavior that's completely different when a player is competing for his home country in a FIBA tournament.

The level of physicality was a shocker for George.

"When we played in FIBA, they were hitting. There was no freedom of movement. If you come across that paint, they chucking you. You know what I mean? Almost to the point that I was like, 'Bro, we gotta fight. What are you doing?' And it were dudes that I was cool with in the NBA," George smiled.

"To this day, after he did this, I was like, 'Alright, there's smoke every time I see him.' Patty Mills. We played Australia, and that team, they're dirty. Australia was dirty. He did something where I'm just running to get back on offense, and I'm just running to fill the corner, and he just [hits me] right in my chest," the Clippers star recalled. "From that point on, I'm a person to get my revenge. From that time, every time I saw him, I was hitting him."

"At that point, I was like, 'That sh*t is different over here.' I like the physicality, but it caught me by surprise because those same dudes, in particular, weren't doing that in the league. We're now playing over there, and it's their game, this is how they play," he explained. "The physicality is definitely different, even fast-break situations. That take foul sh*t? No. Over there, that's your chance to line somebody up. It ain't no transition, it ain't no flagrant, nah. You get a fast break, they're going to put you on your ass. You're going to think about the next time you get a breakaway."

Full Paul George's podcast with Tyrese Haliburton:

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