Jared Dudley reveals in new book Lakers were primed for “Battle for L.A.” because of Paul George

On his 42-page book “Inside the NBA Bubble: A Championship Season under Quarantine”, Jared Dudley took a shot at Paul George saying that the words from his first Clippers media day motivated the Los Angeles Lakers.

Per ESPN, “We hear some of those guys talking about how they’re the team to beat in L.A.,” Dudley and co-author Carvell Wallace wrote in their 42-page book “Inside the NBA Bubble: A Championship Season under Quarantine,” released this week. “It’s fine if Kawhi [Leonard] says stuff like that. He’s defending a championship. We don’t trip if someone like Patrick Beverley is talking trash; that’s how he feeds his family. We get it. We respect the hustle.

“But we think it’s disrespectful for Paul George, who hasn’t won, to put himself on the level of [LeBron James] and [Anthony Davis]. This motivates us.”

In an interview with NBA TV during the Clippers’ media day last season, George answered a reporter’s question wondering if he and Leonard were the top duo in the league by saying, “I think so. When you look at two guys that play on both ends, two guys that can go and get a basket, two guys that can stop you from getting a basket, elite on both ends, I don’t see how you can beat that.”