Paul George recalls the game-winning shot Damian Lillard made over him: "I should have respected his greatness"

Yahoo

22-05-2025

Through the years, the NBA Playoffs have provided many unforgettable moments. The postseason has given fans some of the most thrilling and iconic moments in basketball history, from Michael Jordan's "The Shot" to Jeff Van Gundy hanging onto Alonzo Mourning's leg. However, few are as exhilarating as the long game-winning three-pointer Damian Lillard shot in Paul George's face in Game 5 of their first-round match-up in 2019.
It was a contentious clash that saw players from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder exchange pleasantries all series long. So, when PG came out after the match and labeled Lillard's game-winner as a "bad shot," he immediately caught plenty of flak, with many calling him a "hater" and a "sore loser."
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During his appearance on "The Pivot" podcast, the nine-time All-Star looked back at that moment and paid respect to Dame's "greatness."
Frustration set in
The 6'8" wingman recalled his long road to see action in that series after injuring his shoulder, from countless rehab sessions to taking Toradol shots to manage the pain. So, to see that series end in such a brutal fashion for him and the Thunder was a bitter pill to swallow, which may have led to his comments about Dame's miraculous shot.
"Dame shooting that shot—yeah, I was mad at the moment, but like, I should have respected the moment of, like, him being—like, that's his greatness. I should have respected his greatness," PG said.
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The 15-year NBA veteran explained that his remarks about Lillard's shot were intended from an analytical perspective. The 6'3" guard already had possession of the ball with under 10 seconds to go. With PG covering him at near halfcourt, the shifty guard could have tried to escape the latter's defense for a closer look or maybe even a layup, but instead, settled for a long three-ball.
"In my mind, it was a bad shot just because of—you had 10 seconds and that's the shot you take? That's like giving Tom Brady the ball on the opponent 20, 15 seconds to go, and he kneed it," the versatile wing noted. "Yeah, like, 'Damn Tom, you ain't going to at least go for it?' Like, you know what I mean? You ain't going to try to get closer, right?"
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Got labeled a "hater"
Paul acknowledged facing a challenging period during that time, as he endured heavy criticism for his remarks.
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"That moment, crushed me, because like, people that don't know me, they view me as, 'Oh, he's a hater, he's—he's this.'Like, no, like, I respect Dame. I don't got no problem with Dame," George shared.
"The shot showed his greatness. I was just more so—I felt he had time. Like, in basketball world, it was a bad shot because I felt he could have really isolated me and got closer to the basket or something. So that bothered me," he added.
Hindsight is always 20/20 and even Lillard himself admitted that Hail Mary was a bad shot. However, PG's initial assessment of that remarkable play brought down hellfire and brimstone on him from fans and analysts alike. But George persevered through the criticism, got past it and is now trying to help the Philadelphia 76ers take the next step in their pursuit of excellence in the Eastern Conference.
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